More Methods and Products That might Help

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There are various methods you can use to ensure your set stays in. These include skin-preps and experimenting with different tape products.

• In order to keep the cannula in, there are times when it might be best to cover it. These times could include when you are very active, or in summer (or simply in a hot place), when heat and perspiration may have some effect, or perhaps when swimming. There are many tape devices that can be put over the cannula. Most have to stay on until the cannula is removed.

• If there is a need to keep the cannula in place better than the means supplied with it, the suggestion is made to cover it with a transparent dressing. For cannulas without a quick-release connection to the catheter, a sheet dressing like Tegaderm or Polyskin or Polyseal could completely cover the infusion site. (see the products listed in Chapter 2.
  

• For those infusion sets with a quick release, the tape will be more comfortable, and the Quick Release will still be useable, if a hole is cut in the center. This can be done by folding the tape in fourths and cutting off the folded corner to accommodate the catheter of the Sof-set^TM or Tender/Silhoutte/Comfort, as shown in the illustration.
   
• If perspiration has moistened the tape or dressing holding a metal needle infusion set in place, you may be able to carefully remove the tape without removing the needle. If so, clean and dry the area thoroughly and retape.

• If warm, humid weather, which may cause sweaty bodies, is a factor, there may be more required to make the insertion set stay attached to your body. These are some ideas that were suggested:
   

• Use anti-perspirant to keep the skin dry in the heat, but use that anti-perspirant only for that purpose. Use another container for other uses.
• Use a skin preparation like Smith and Nephew Skin Prep to make the skin sticky
• Use Smith and Nephew IV Prep, or a similar product, to make the skin both sticky and bacteria-free
• Use a bottom layer of tape (sterile top and bottom) under the infusion set for it to stick to
• There is a product called Skin-Tac. It is a liquid adhesive which is put on before the tape. I don't know why one couldn't use it if the tape begins to pull from the edges. As long as the infusion set has not been disturbed I would think it would work. it is made by Mason Labs.
• After the I.V. Prep and before the infusion set, put a Smith and Nephew IV3000. That is a transparent dressing, sterile on both sides, that should stick to the skin and allow the insertion set adhesive to stick more securely to it than it might to skin.
• If you are using an infusion set without an adhesive attached, or want even more security, cover the cannula with 3M Tegaderm^TM, or something similar.