My tunnelled line
My central line was inserted on the 16th June at Kings, central lines can also be called a skin-tunnelled central venous catheter or Hickman or even a Groshong Line.
The lines are long, hollow tubes made from silicone rubber.
My neck was checked several times for a suitable vein using ultrasound technology, this areas was then cleaned thoroughly with antiseptic solution. They used a local anaesthetic to numb the area and then made a small cut in my skin near my collarbone on my right side, this is the Insertion Site. This site was secured by stitches.
The tip of the line was then gently threaded into the large vein above my heart. The other end of the line was then tunnelled under the skin and an exit area was made in my chest and secured via stitches, I was then x-rayed to ensure the line was in the correct position. The lines (I have 2) are sealed with a bung and the lines have been heplocked to avoid clotting and are clamped during non use.
This exit area is prone to infection and has been covered in a dressing since it's fitting. This dressing currently is being changed daily and the lines are currently being flushed and locked once a week on a Friday morning, soon we will also flush and lock the lines at home.
The tip of the line was then gently threaded into the large vein above my heart. The other end of the line was then tunnelled under the skin and an exit area was made in my chest and secured via stitches, I was then x-rayed to ensure the line was in the correct position. The lines (I have 2) are sealed with a bung and the lines have been heplocked to avoid clotting and are clamped during non use.
This exit area is prone to infection and has been covered in a dressing since it's fitting. This dressing currently is being changed daily and the lines are currently being flushed and locked once a week on a Friday morning, soon we will also flush and lock the lines at home.
The insertion site is now dressing free after the stitches were removed a week after the placement of the line.
I bet you are wondering why the line doesn't fall out??
There is a small cuff around the central line which can be felt under my skin, this is just above the exit site in my chest, the skin around the exit site is slowly growing around this cuff, which does cause a little discomfort and by the 3/4 week will hold my line safely in place, at this point the stitches will be removed.
There is a small cuff around the central line which can be felt under my skin, this is just above the exit site in my chest, the skin around the exit site is slowly growing around this cuff, which does cause a little discomfort and by the 3/4 week will hold my line safely in place, at this point the stitches will be removed.
Daily I have to watch for several problems as infection can develop either inside the line itself or around the exit site in my chest - swelling/redness or severe pain at the exit site, discoloured fluid seeping from the exit site or suffering from a high temperature.
Blood clots are also a possibility, a clot can form at the end of my line in the vein, again I have several things to look out for here.
One last thing is I cannot allow water or air into my line, the clamps must always be closed when my Line isn't being used, the clamps must always be closed especially when the bungs are not in place.
Blood clots are also a possibility, a clot can form at the end of my line in the vein, again I have several things to look out for here.
One last thing is I cannot allow water or air into my line, the clamps must always be closed when my Line isn't being used, the clamps must always be closed especially when the bungs are not in place.
Long term care and cleanliness will help keep my line in place long term and allow me to have ongoing treatment.
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