LymeNet Flash: IV anchor tape help

This is topic IV anchor tape help in forum Medical Questions at LymeNet Flash.

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Posted by kare (Member # 5041) on :

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to keep the anchor tape for the IV secure?
I just got my line put in on Fri. and the nurse was back -Sat, Sun and today - it seems that when I have a pressure dressing - the anchor stays - but when it's just the anchor tape and then the straight dressing - the anchor tape lifts - HELP?

Posted by david1097 (Member # 3662) on :

Do you have a PICC?
When you say tape do you mean the clear plastic thing that covers the entry site?
What kind of "tape" do you use now?
What happwns to the "tape" now?
Does it lift under the center or does it start to peel up at the edges?

I hae a lot of experience with a PICC and its dressing and maybe can help but need the know the above info.

Posted by Nancy-OH (Member # 3567) on :

My nurse neighbor created an "butterfly" with the tape for me and that worked very well.

Posted by lymemomtooo (Member # 5396) on :

K, you need a stat lock at the end and as much tape as you can stand..the chevron mentioned is also a good idea..Without something like a stat lock, it can fall out.

Also you must have a tagaderm or other such clear bandage covering all.

Posted by kare (Member # 5041) on :

Yes, I do have a picc line. I think that I do have a stat lock now and that is the part that keeps lifting - I am still bleeding a bit - so far the clear dressing on top if is all is fine.

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

Kare, A Statlock shouldn't be lifting if it was properly applied. Is this what you have? StatLock

Mine stayed on for six weeks before being replaced, but mine was outside of the tegaderm dressing. My PICC catheter is blue, and there is almost ten cm extending from the insertion site.

This is held in place with Steristrips (sterile pieces of tape) and the clear tegaderm dressing on top. The tegaderm is like a big piece of cellophane that covers the entire site to keep things sterile.

At the edge of the tegaderm is the connection for my Statlock, which is an additional means of securing the line. Not everybody has a Statlock put on, and my nursing company didn't even have new ones to change mine. But it is the most secure way of keeping the line from moving.

I keep a roll of surgical tape around to stick on anything that starts to lift up. I'm not sure what part of your PICC keeps coming off, but you should let the health care company know if it isn't staying in place.

Keep the line in place is one of the most important things to keep the line sterile and prevent infection.

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Sonoma County Lyme Support
[email protected]

Posted by Foggy (Member # 1584) on :

I recall the nurse removed the white plastic adhesive anchor after the 1st week and used 4 steri strips under the Op Site Dressing and it stayed pretty snug for 3 months.

Posted by kare (Member # 5041) on :

yes - this stat lock looks like what I have - and it is lifting

Posted by riversinger (Member # 4851) on :

The Statlock has a special prep that is supposed to be applied to help it stick to your skin. I wonder if they forgot that? Since mine is outside the tegaderm, I just use the surgical tape to stick down any edges that start to lift.

Is the entire thing coming off, or just the edges? When I use the tape over it, it seems like the adhesive starts to grab on again, and I can take the extra tape off for a few days.

Of course, this only works if your Statlock is outside the sterile dressing. Also, I found I have the least reaction to paper tape. Some of the plastic ones give me really bad rashes.

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Sonoma County Lyme Support
[email protected]

Posted by Deb (Member # 4393) on :

Hi Kare,

I have been on IV treatment for the last 19 weeks. For the first six weeks or so the nurse used a tegaderm dressing. However, over time we noticed that the tape was causing skin tears and irritations. So my nurse switched me over to a sorbaview 2000 dressing. I have had wonderful results with this dressing. We no longer use tape or steri strips within the sterile field or around the outside of the dressing. However, we still use tape and a piece of gauze to anchor down the IV extension tubing so that it does not dig into my skin. Perhaps it might be worth asking your nurse about trying a sorbaview 2000 dressing. Wishing you all the best.

Debbie