Catheter management.
OBJECTIVE
To review the care and maintenance of the central venous access device (VAD), including dressing management, practice of accessing, swabbing, deaccessing and flushing, specific IV connectors, and practice considerations when sampling blood and VAD removal.


METHODS
Journal articles, compendiums and standards, case reports, manufacturers' product information, personal experience.


CONCLUSIONS
The available data on VAD care and maintenance depends on data from a variety of sources. VAD care is product-dependent and, while some basic actions are universal to dressing management, septum swabbing, and catheter flushing, it is important to understand the idiosyncrasies of various products to provide the best and safest care.


CONCLUSIONS
Critical thinking skills and individualized care planning are necessary for the care and maintenance of VADs, which is a primary role of the nurse.
Macklin
Denise
D
plsysinc@msn.com
D001458:Bandages; D018441:Biofilms; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D020878:Device Removal; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004867:Equipment Design; D004868:Equipment Failure; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008283:Maintenance; D024802:Nurse's Role; D009730:Nursing Assessment; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000379:methods*; D010347:Patient Care Planning; D017592:Skin Care / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing*; D007507:Therapeutic Irrigation / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing