Being kept in hospital with toddler advice please

[Dontthinkthrice]

Hi all, my son was given a Hickman line for suspected lymphoma back in August. Turned out he didn’t require it and although it was handy for bloods it should have been taken out a few weeks ago.
it is booked to be removed in a few weeks but we were admitted yesterday for a high temperature. They did a blood culture and started him on antibiotics. His temp keeps spiking every 6 hours or so and his heart rate it high. The registrar tried to get his line removed today but the surgeons wouldn’t accept him as he is unwell. There is now visible signs of line infection and it’s a line that is not needed. One nurse has said in this instance it strengthens the case to remove it. Everything I read says it should be removed but I don’t feel anyone in listening to me. The nurse and registrar left for the night without updating me and the night nurse says his temp needs to clear. What do I do?

Hope he gets better soon 💐

Hi @Dontthinkthrice I'm so sorry to hear your son is unwell.
Can you ask the nurses to bleep the on call doctor say you are very concerned.
Wishing your baby well.

I assume he's on IV antibiotics? There will be doctors on call over night and the nurse will monitor him. Any changes for the worse e.g. signs of sepsis then make sure you alert her and demand to see a doctor.

Sorry, obviously really hope he gets better soon. Be brave op, it's so scary when your l/o is unwell.

This happened every month when my DS had his hickman line. In hosp for 4 days for chemo, home for a couple of days, then off to a different hospital for 3 weeks of treatment for line infection, home for 2 days, then back to the other hospital for another 4 days of chemo etc. I was told that they try to preserve the line at all costs, rather than operate and insert a new one. They may be delaying removing your DC's line because if he needs IV antibiotics, it's significantly easier through the Hickman line. It does seem counterintuitive, but if it's reached the point where the surgeons say he is not well enough to withstand surgery, the hospital team will try to kill the infection in the line and then remove it when he's better.

You can't do anything tonight except comfort your child and try to rest. (You can ask to speak to the ward manager and the Dr on duty, but they won't operate tonight regardless, so it's better to wait for the day team to be on.) Raise the issue again when the new shift comes on in the morning and if you're worried your DC's health is declining, ask for the case to be reviewed urgently (not sure if Martha's rule applies in your hospital).

It is scary and really annoying that they delay taking these bloody lines out (we had to wait months - queue an unecessary stay in hospital for yet another line infection in the interim). I hope your DC recovers soon OP, and the line gets removed ASAP.