Driveline Exit Site Care - HeartWare Ventricular Assist System Patient Manual

9.2 Driveline Exit Site Care
Proper care of your skin around the driveline exit site is very important to prevent infection in this
area. Prior to leaving the hospital, your nurse should explain and demonstrate proper care of the
exit site. One of the most important measures you can take to prevent exit site infections is to
protect the driveline from excessive movement. Take care not to pull on the driveline or get it
caught on objects where the result may be sudden pulling or yanking.
The dressing around your exit site should be changed according to your doctor's instructions. Always
thoroughly wash your hands with soap and water prior to any dressing change. Always use sterile
technique with every dressing change. General guidelines include:
1. Obtain all necessary materials
2. Wash your hands thoroughly
3. Remove dressing
4. Observe exit site for redness, swelling or drainage
5. Open new dressings
6. Use sterile gloves
7. Cleanse the exit site with saline or other agent (start close to the driveline and then
move away)
8. Apply sterile dressings
9. Tuck any excess driveline length under an abdominal binder or dressing or keep it
secured close to the body by clothing
CAUTION: DO NOT pull, kink or twist the driveline or the power cables. Special care
should be taken not to twist the driveline while sitting, getting out of bed, adjusting
controller or power sources, or when using the shower bag.
CAUTION: ALWAYS keep extra driveline length tucked under clothing or secured with
an abdominal binder or dressing. Do not let any portion of driveline hang freely where
it might get caught on external items such as doorknobs or the corners of furniture.
CAUTION: ALWAYS notify your physician promptly if there is drainage, swelling or
reddened skin around the driveline exit site, these may indicate an infection.
CAUTION: DO NOT use prophylactic topical antibiotic ointments such as silver
sulfadiazine, betadine, or polymyxin‐neomycin‐bacitracin ointment. These ointments
can injure the tissue adjacent to the exit site.
CAUTION: ALWAYS examine the driveline for evidence of tears, punctures or
breakdown of any of the material during exit site dressing changes. Report any
damage to your physician, nurse or VAD coordinator.
CAUTION: ALWAYS notify your physician promptly if you notice blood or fluid in the
driveline. The section of the driveline inside your body may have been damaged
during HVAD® Pump implantation or during another operation. The driveline has built
in features that minimize the effect of blood or fluid entering it, so the HVAD® Pump
should continue to operate normally. However, your physician should examine the
driveline to fully evaluate the situation.
HeartWare® Ventricular Assist System Patient Manual
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