Care for patients with a Hickman catheter
Section: LEARNING TO TEACH
Authors
María Concepción Moreno Calvete
Position
Diplomada Universitaria en Enfermería. Hospital Psiquiátrico de Zaldibar.
Contact email: kontxi.moreno@gmail.com
Abstract
The Hickman catheter is a tube with one or more lumen which is inserted through a central entry route in patients needing to be frequently administered with intravenous chemotherapy treatments, as well as parenteral nutrition, blood products, and to draw blood for analysis, etc. It represents a long-term pathway with which offers many possibilities, especially in patients with severe diseases.
Nurses must meet the needs of patients who carry a Hickman catheter, to provide them the necessary, give them security and confidence. They must also possess the right skills to train the patient and their family in its management.
Because the management of the Hickman catheter requires the nurse to have acquired a set of skills, due to the risk associated to having a large flow pathway connected to the outside, this paper proposes the following objectives: describing the different techniques, explaining nursing cares and listing the most common complications that can be encountered.
Usually the nursing staff are responsible for the care provided, as well as the handling of the Hickman catheter. They must assume responsibility for training the patient and their families in order to achieve maximum independence when at home. Knowledge of the various nursing care and management techniques of the Hickman catheter will allow the best possible care for the patient.
Keywords:
Hickman catheter complications; techniquesnursing care
Versión en Español
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