Hickman Line? - sharing your experience

[mummeeee]

our dd (2yo) has a Broviac line (similar to a Hickman line) and I just wondered if there were other parents of children with lines who might be able to share advice.

This time of year in particular it would be helpful to ask if you allow swimming, if so do you dress the line differently, change the dressing immediately after etc?

Also, other people's experience of line infections, frequency, seriousness, treatment etc

I had one for 2 years and I never went swimming but I did have little bag type things to cover the line and the opening and I used htem in the shower.i kept it meticulously clean with wipes etc and only had one infection the whole time.It was achey to begin with but really settled down adn tbh the main problem was other peoples attitudes!I feel for your little one It is hard enough as an adult xx

Our son had a Hickmann line for nearly a year and it was very explicitly said he should never go swimming with it for fear of major infection - indeed even in the bath, the water was always very shallow and we put the Hickmann in a plastic sandwich bag and then taped over his shoulder so as to minimise any water getting into contact with the line.

Unfortunately our DS has staph infections alot during his treatment and so had to have his Hickmann replaced a couple of times and was constantly on IV antibiotics and in isolation - doctors treated infections very carefully as his immune system was zero due to chemo so any infection was considered life threatening.

Speak with your doctors and specialist nurses and they'll be able to give you all the relevant details - and I wouldn't go swimming until you do.

I wd say definately no swimming with a central line...the risk of a pseudomonas infection is too high-as others have said you need to try and avoid getting it wet even in the bath and tape it up with plastic bag or plastic gloves covering the ends if at all possible.
For most children with a Hickman or Broviac risk of infection is most common problem usually from own skin flora (ie staph infections). You can get small bags to carry ends in as others have said...keep ends away from nappy area if still in nappies as high risk of cross contamination.
Keep an eye on the exit site for signs of infection-redness/discharge etc.
but if your DD is immune suppressed at all she may not show these obvious infection signs and symptoms so you will need to keep an eye on her for a temp...did any nurses talk to you about the line? You should carry a safety kit around with you (clamps etc) in case of breakage
HTH and hope your daughter ok