Question for list:
Do you allow patients with PICCs and tunneled central catheters to
swim/shower, etc? If so, how do you waterproof the site? Supposedly
the transparent dressing [Tegaderm or Sorba View in our case] is
waterproof, but water still can seep in where the catheter exits the
dressing. I work with neonates to adult sized patients, so the size and
age range is quite broad. I have seen some commercial waterproofing
devices, but have not used any of these. Any recommendations for
showering/swimming and waterproofing both chest and arm central lines?
Our current policy is to allow kids to swim in pools [depending on their
counts] with tunneled, cuffed lines, but not PICCs. They can shower or
bathe with either as long as the PICC is not submerged.
Thanks in advance,
Anne Marie
