Originally Posted by
rhaugen
IV Securement refers to an emerging concept that is backed by numerous studies that manufactured IV securement devices can prolong the IV dwell time. Tape, as you mentined is the most commonly used type of device right now, in particular the Tegaderm IV site dressing manufactured by 3M.
Tegaderm is a wonderful product and works for short term IV's very well, however it does not offer long term securement and certainly cannot offer securement up to the 96 hour dwell time, suggested by OSHA/CDC.
Recent studies suggest that the use of manufactured IV securement devices can not only prolong IV dwell times securely but they also carry the benefit of reducing accidental needlesticks by reducing the number of IV restarts.
Your exactly right in regard to movement of the catheter. If the movement of the catheter can be limited, or eliminated you can greatly extend the IV dwell time and that is exactly what IV securement devices offer.
There are lots of published studies showing the benefits of IV securement devices and in fact OSHA/CDC are now recommending their usage. These studies further show that tape can be contaminated and it's use as a securement device is now greatly discouraged.
Rick