Midline and peripherally inserted central catheters are special kinds of IVs. They go through the skin and into a vein. To care for a catheter:
- Use a clear dressing to cover the small sponge disc, any devices used to hold the catheter in place, and any of the IV tubing that is outside of the vein.
- If the tubing is long, gently curve it away from where the IV goes into the skin before putting the dressing on. The tubing should not cover the spot where it enters the skin, and it should not be coiled on itself.
- Do not pull on the dressing while applying, as it will pull on the skin. Gently press around the edges of the dressing to help them stick to the skin.
