How to change the dressing on a central venous catheter

In general, a clear dressing needs to be changed once a week, such as every Monday. A gauze dressing needs to be changed 2 or 3 times a week, such as every Monday and Thursday or every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. Also, change your dressing right away if it becomes wet, loose, or dirty.

• Wash your hands with warm, soapy water. Rinse and dry your hands with a clean towel or paper towels.
• Prepare a clean work area, such as a clean counter in your kitchen or bathroom.
  • You may wish to spread several clean paper towels over your work area.
  • If you change your dressing in the kitchen, do not leave food on the counter.
• Gather the supplies you need for your dressing change, including:
  • An antiseptic, such as alcohol prep pads and swabs or Betadine swabs. Some health professionals recommend chlorhexidine. Your health professional will tell you which type of antiseptic he or she prefers.
  • Gauze and tape bandage or a clear dressing.
• Wash and dry your hands again.
• Open the packages that contain the antiseptic swabs. Lay them on the clean work surface.
• Remove the old dressing.
  • Do not tug on the catheter.
  • Do not touch the catheter insertion site.
• Inspect the site by looking for redness, swelling, or drainage. Notice whether the area around the catheter is tender or sore when you remove the bandage or move the catheter.
• Rewash and redry your hands.
• Remove one alcohol swab from the package and clean around the catheter exit site in a circular fashion, starting at the insertion site and moving out.
• Remove a Betadine swab from the package and clean around the catheter exit site in a circular fashion, starting at the insertion site and moving out.
  • Repeat with a second Betadine swab.
  • Do not use a swab more than once.
  • Discard each swab after use.
• Using an alcohol prep pad, grip the catheter at the exit site. Using another alcohol pad, gently clean the outside of the catheter.
  • Start from the exit site and move toward the cap.
  • If your catheter has 2 or 3 lumens, use a fresh pad to clean each lumen.
• Apply gauze or a clear dressing. If you are using a gauze dressing, secure it with tape.
• Loop the catheter under one corner of the dressing or place it over one corner of the dressing and secure it with tape.
  • You may need to experiment with different positions to find the one most comfortable for you.
  • To safeguard against the catheter getting caught or pulled during your activities, make sure the catheter does not hang or flop loosely.
• Dispose of the old dressing and any used materials as directed by your health professional.