Left ventricular assist device driveline infection and the frequency of dressing change in hospitalized patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if driveline infection is related to dressing change frequency in hospitalized adult patients with newly implanted left ventricular assist devices (LVAD).


BACKGROUND
Guidelines do not exist for the frequency of driveline exit-site dressing change in hospitalized patients resulting in wide variation in practice.


METHODS
A retrospective chart review was conducted on 68 patients implanted with a HeartMate II LVAD between August 2008 and September 2013 at an urban medical center.


RESULTS
No driveline infections were found. Frequency of the driveline dressing change varied from daily, three times a week, and weekly. The daily dressing change group was younger in age compared to the weekly group (p = 0.005) and three times a week group (p = 0.001). No other differences were found.


CONCLUSIONS
Driveline infections do not appear to be related to the frequency of dressing change in this population. Our data and other studies on this topic thus far are too limited to draw definitive conclusions about optimal frequency of dressing change for infection prevention.
Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, 111 South 11th Street, Suite 5480N, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA. Electronic address: lisa.wus@jefferson.edu.
Lisa
L
Wus
Thomas Jefferson University, Jefferson School of Nursing, 901 Walnut Street, Suite 814, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
MaryLou
M
Manning
Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Department of Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University, 1025 Walnut Street, Suite 607 College Building, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
John W C
JW
Entwistle
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001458:Bandages; D005260:Female; D006353:Heart-Assist Devices / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016459:Prosthesis-Related Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies
Driveline dressing change; Driveline infection; Exit site care; Exit site management; Ventricular assist device