Left ventricular assist device driveline infection and the frequency of dressing change in hospitalized patients.

Publication/Presentation Date

1-1-2015

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To determine if driveline infection is related to dressing change frequency in hospitalized adult patients with newly implanted left ventricular assist devices (LVAD).

BACKGROUND: Guidelines do not exist for the frequency of driveline exit-site dressing change in hospitalized patients resulting in wide variation in practice.

METHODS: A retrospective chart review was conducted on 68 patients implanted with a HeartMate II LVAD between August 2008 and September 2013 at an urban medical center.

RESULTS: No driveline infections were found. Frequency of the driveline dressing change varied from daily, three times a week, and weekly. The daily dressing change group was younger in age compared to the weekly group (p = 0.005) and three times a week group (p = 0.001). No other differences were found.

CONCLUSION: Driveline infections do not appear to be related to the frequency of dressing change in this population. Our data and other studies on this topic thus far are too limited to draw definitive conclusions about optimal frequency of dressing change for infection prevention.

Volume

44

Issue

3

First Page

225

Last Page

229

ISSN

1527-3288

Disciplines

Business Administration, Management, and Operations | Health and Medical Administration | Management Sciences and Quantitative Methods

PubMedID

25746483

Department(s)

Administration and Leadership

Document Type

Article

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