Are there any facilities using Securacath? I would love to talk to anyone who is using this and get their imput. Our PICC team is trialing this product and we are having troubles. We have had several lines pulled out, with the device still in place. Several patients complain that it is painful. The company says we are the ONLY facility with any problems. HELP!!
Thank you,
Elaine Smith, RN
Covenant Medical Center
Our company places the Securacath at one of our contracted facilities that is a LTACH. We pair the device with the Cook Spectrum. If you would like to talk about it you can call my office.
Mickey
Michelle L. Hawes, RN, MSN, CRNI, VA-BC
Chief Executive Officer
Vascular Access Specialists, LLC
Indianapolis, IN
317-888-0303
We are using them and like them a lot. We have had one patient partially pull his PICC out as he was using a great deal of force to pull (confused patient). The SecurAcath stayed intact in his skin but due to the stretching of the PICC, it had come out 10 cm. We just exchanged his PICC line and took measures to prevent the patient from pulling it. I personally found that if I put the securacath right next to the hub it seems to hold well. You also have to be very sure that the PICC line is well seated in the center of the securacath and that it is snapped tightly on both sides. You may need to check to see if your PICC lines are slightly smaller than the 5 french securacaths. I think they're coming out with a 4 french and they already have the 6 french. When a patient stretches the PICC, it gets thinner--probably thin enough to slide through the securacath. Also when you insert the securacath, if the prongs criss-cross a little bit, remove and reinsert in order to get a fully deployed "T" shape: it really makes a difference. I had one patient that reported "it felt like it was poking me a little the first day but now I don't notice it anymore". It may not be perfect in every patient situation, but I love how fast the dressing changes go with the securacath and NO migration worries. I hope some of this info helps!
The facility I work at use them on all PICCs and some CVLS. To avoid the catheter sliding, make sure it snaps securely closed on all four sides. Once the device is closed, we hold the SecurAcath device in one hand, and gently pull on the catheter. If it slips, either the four sides are not securely closed, or the catheter is not laying in the "groved section" inside the SecurAcath properly. Also, you need to make certain that you are using the correct size SecurAcath for the size of the catheter you are inserting, expecially if you use a tapered catheter. As for patient complaint of pain, we do not have any complaints, in fact our patients are more pleased with the SecurAcath than any other securement device we have ever used. It may the device is being inserted to deep, or at the wrong angle. I'm sure the clinical people from Interrad would work with you on that aspect of it. We have used it several months now and really like it.
PAB