Does anyone have any information on the length of stay for Huber needles. My facility always says change every 7 days, but our IV team has a patient that seems to never let us change her Huber needle! We were wondering if there are any guidelines maybe suggesting Huber’s can stay longer! Any help? Thanks
NOthing to my knowledge. INS Standards states there was no studies so no recommendation I think. 7 days is common due to the original manufacturer instructions, but there are studies with longer dwell times for the Huber. A few extra days might not be a problem but weeks could be, again no studies. Skin can never be made sterile; needle can move, dragging organisms into port body, then bloodstream. Have you contacted the manufacturer of port and needle to check for their recommendations?
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861