HeartWare HVAD - Exit Site Care

69
HVAD
®
Patient Manual
6.3 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 clinician will 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 clinician’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 underneath 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 clinician 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,
povidone iodine (betadine), or polymyxin-neomycin-bacitracin ointment around your exit
site. These ointments can injure the tissue next to your driveline.
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 clinician.
CAUTION: ALWAYS notify your clinician promptly if you notice blood or uid 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 uid entering it, so the HVAD
®
Pump should continue to operate normally.
However, your clinician should examine the driveline to fully evaluate the situation.