Central Vascular Access Device (CVAD): Changing the Dressing

These are general tips. Your care team may change and care for your CVAD at home. Or they will teach you how to take care of it. Be sure to follow the specific instructions you are given. Contact your care team if you have questions or concerns.

In general, a clear plastic dressing needs to be changed every 7 days. A gauze dressing should be changed every 2 days. Also, change your dressing right away if it becomes wet, bloody, loose, or dirty.

Be sure you have all your supplies ready. These usually include medical tape, a surgical mask, clean disposable gloves, sterile gloves, your dressing, an applicator, alcohol pads, and skin-protecting swabs. The names and brands of the items will vary. You may need help changing the dressing.

1. Prepare a clean work area, such as a clean counter in your bathroom. Put your supplies on the clean area.
2. Wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Be sure to wash between your fingers and under your fingernails. Dry your hands with paper towels.
3. Put on the surgical mask.
4. Put on the clean disposable gloves. Loosen and slowly peel away the old dressing while holding the CVAD securely in place. You may need to use an adhesive remover if it doesn't come off easily.
5. Look at the area carefully for redness, swelling, drainage, pus, tenderness, or warmth. If you notice any of these, contact your doctor.
6. Remove your disposable gloves.
7. Wash your hands again (as instructed in step 2), and put on the sterile gloves.
8. Clean the area with the applicator your care team gave you or with alcohol pads. Clean in an up-down or side-to-side motion. When you have finished, let the area dry for about 30 seconds.
9. Clean the outside of the CVAD.
   • Use an alcohol pad to hold the CVAD in place. Use another alcohol pad to gently clean the outside of it.
   • Start from where the CVAD is at the skin and gently clean toward the cap.
   • If the CVAD has 2 or 3 lines, use a fresh pad to clean each line.
10. Swab the edges of the cleaned skin area with the skin protector.
11. Remove the backing from the clear plastic dressing. Place the dressing over the device and the skin around it. If you are using a gauze dressing, be sure it covers the skin around the device and secure it with tape.
12. Tape or fasten the CVAD to your body so it will not dangle or get pulled on.
13. Dispose of the old dressing and any used materials as instructed.
14. Wash your hands again with soap and water.