Central Line Care
If your child has a central line or central venous catheter, it's normal to feel a little bit nervous caring for the central line at first, but soon you'll feel more comfortable. Cook Children's has created these videos to help you and your child manage the care of their central line. You'll find step-by-step help for the central line cap change, Heparin flush, dressing change and home lab draws.
Central Line: Cap Change
View the steps for changing the cap in preparation for a Heparin flush.
Supplies needed:
- Liquid antibacterial soap
- Paper towels
- Face masks
- Packet with new cap
- Alcohol pads
Central Line: Dressing Change
Instructions for changing the protective dressing covering your child's central line exit site.
Supplies needed for cap change:
- Liquid antibacterial soap
- Paper towels
- Face mask
- Chloraprep stick
- Biopatch (antibiotic disc)
- Clear, transparent waterproof (occlusive) dressing
- Hand antiseptic gel or sanitizer
- Adhesive tape remover (optional)
Central Line: Heparin Flush
Follow the instructions in this video on drawing labs from home and preparing them for the lab.
Supplies needed for home lab draw:
- Liquid antibacterial soap
- Paper towels
- Face mask
- Pair of gloves
- Alcohol pads
- New 10ml syringe (to draw blood waste)
- New 10ml syringe needed for lab tests
- Needleless blood transfer device
- Pre-filled syringe of normal saline, 10ml
- Pre-filled syringe of Heparin, 3 ml
- for children who weigh less than 10kg: yellow label
- for children who weigh more than 10kg: blue label