(CVC) Management Guidance - the Royal Cornwall Hospitals Trust ...

Repeated specimen collection
6 Staff Who Can Manage / Access CVC’s
Staff managing CVC’s in the PCH must fulfil the following criteria:
Are a registered healthcare professional
Have successfully completed PCH Intravenous Drug (I.V.) therapy course and
fulfilled the PCH competency assessment
Must have completed further training in the management of central lines
Have been assessed as competent in the management of these devices
7 Insertion of CVC’s
A CVC line will only be inserted in an acute setting unless specific arrangements have been
made with the acute care team for insertion in a community hospital. In the case of the latter
X-ray facilities must be available on site. A detailed care plan must support the insertion for
care and maintenance of the device.
8 Care of Central Venous Catheters
8.1 Dressings (i.e PICC & Hickman style) (refer to appendix 1)
The central venous catheter (CVC) / central venous access device (CVAD) must
be carefully observed to assess if the dressing is intact and to detect any early
signs of infection e.g. redness and warmth.
No antimicrobial ointments should be used on the catheter site
ANTT with sterile gloves must be used for all CVC dressings and procedures (see
Appendix ).
A Chloraprep® applicator of 3mL Chlorhexidine 2% in Alcohol 70% must be used
to clean the skin area before new dressing is applied.
The dressing of choice is the Central Line I.V. 3000®. This dressing has a high
Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR) which helps remove moisture build
up and therefore reducing the ideal environment for bacteria.
The site must be observed for erythema or inflammation and the Visual Infusion
Phlebitis (VIP) or Central Catheter Assessment Tool (CCAT) (Appendix 1-1/2)
score should be indicated in the care plan each time the device is accessed or at
minimum daily or as condition dictates. In the community an appropriate person to
monitor the site may be the patient or carer.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter’s (PICC) are not stitched in place and require
securing. Devices used for this range from the clear occlusive dressing and in
addition a grip lock below.
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