Preparing for Your Central Venous Catheter (CVC) Placement (The James)

Preparing for Your Central Venous Catheter (CVC) Placement (The James)

 

A Central Venous Catheter (CVC) is a special type of intravenous (IV) catheter that may be used during your cancer care. A CVC is a long, thin, flexible tube that is tunneled under your skin and put into a large vein under your collarbone.

During your CVC placement procedure, small incisions will be made through your skin. Because germs live on your skin, there is a chance you will get an infection. To lessen your chance of infection, you need to take special care of your skin before you have this procedure.

You need to clean your skin with special CHG cloths the evening before your CVC placement procedure and again the morning of your procedure. You will be given 2 packages of the CHG cloths. Each package has 2 CHG cloths.

 

How to Clean Your Skin with CHG Cloths

  1. Take a shower as usual and pat yourself dry with a clean towel.
  2. Open one package of the CHG cloths.
  3. Take out one CHG cloth to clean the front side of your body. Start with your neck (right below your ears) and gently scrub back and forth across your neck, shoulders and chest. Clean all the way down to your waist.
  4. Let your skin dry for 1 minute.
  5. Use a second cloth to clean your neck, shoulder and chest again. Repeat steps 3 and 4.
  6. Do not rinse off with water or dry your skin after you use the CHG cloths.
  7. Do not use any lotions or moisturizers after you use the CHG cloths.
  8. Put on clean clothes.

 

 

© February 16, 2022. The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute.

This handout is for informational purposes only. Talk with your doctor or health care team if you have any questions about your care.