Vascular access device securement for oncology patients and those with chronic diseases

When contending with a cancer diagnosis or chronic illness, the patient's journey is fraught with obstacles that must be overcome. Each day, attempting to navigate such obstacles requires the ability to manage the illness, the treatment, and the effects of both. Adding unnecessary trips to the emergency department (ED), skin breakdown and anxiety about the security of the vascular access device (VAD) may all cause added distress for the patient.

VADs are often a lifeline for the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents, medications, nutritional requirements or antimicrobial infusions (Turner and Hankins, 2010). Having the right VAD placed is the first collaborative decision between the patient, physician and their vascular access specialist. Keeping the VAD secure, preserving skin integrity and reducing risk of infection should be equally important, but the choice of device is often determined by traditional procedural practice or clinical convenience (Czaplewski, 2010).