One Suggestion from one pumper...:

  1. Before beginning toEMLA Cream apply the insertion set, use whatever you feel necessary to relieve 'discomfort' during the insertion of the device. This could be as simple as put ice on the chosen site for a few moments, or as involved as using EMLA cream or anesthetic disks(a prescription item).

     

  2. The area of the new insertion site should be cleaned with soap and warm water and thoroughly rinsed. iv3000Apply an anti-bacterial (I use Smith and Nephew I.V. Prep). An application of an antibacterial skin preparation will help by making the skin sticky and also serve as a barrier between the skin and the adhesive. Smith and Nephew Skin Prep or IV Prep are most often mentioned but there is also ShieldSkin by the Mentor Company and Skin Tac by Mason Labs (and probably more). There is also 3M No Sting Barrier Film. The 3M product description includes that No-Sting is a "professional" product. The uses listed for the product are protective but this has been used by some pumpers with some success. Plain antiseptics or antibacterials, such as Hibiclens or Betadine will help prevent infection but are not intended to aid in adhesion.
     

  3. With a sticky skin preparation on (and dry) your fingers also stick to you, which may cause some concern after the infusion set is in place. One way to avoid this is to add a sterile (both sides) dressing and putting the cannula through it. One such product is Smith and Nephew Opsite IV3000. If that is used you must be sure to get the all the sticky skin preparation off your fingers so it will not stick to the Opsite3000.


  4. Get the insertion set ready and insert it, according to the instructions you have.
     
  5. The very last thing is, of course, the safety loop. That is a piece of tape across the catheter near the infusion set. The catheter is left loose between the cannula and the tape. This will provide something other than the infusion set to tug on when the pump is dropped or the catheter is caught, and will, hopefully, keep the infusion set from being pulled out.

    With the safety loop taking the force of a tug or pull, the adhesive on the cannula will have only to stay on you, rather than also having to resist those tugs.


    Back to Page One