Tunnelled line removal

Information for patients

This leaflet answers common questions about your tunnelled line removal in the Vascular Access Unit (VAU). If you would like any further information or have any concerns, please do not hesitate to contact your named nurse, doctor or the Vascular Access Unit.

Why do I need to have my tunnelled line removed?

You may need to have your tunnelled line removed for various reasons. You may have completed your treatment, and no longer need your line, or you may have a complication such as a broken line or an infection. Your treating team will have explained the reason(s) to you.

Benefits

If the tunnelled line is not required anymore, it will be best to have it removed to avoid having any complications associated with the central line, such as possible infection or a blood clot.

If you still need a central line but you have had a complication with the current one, we will need to remove this line and consider inserting a new one for you at the same time or at a later date.

What are the risks involved with this procedure?

Removing a tunnelled line is generally a safe procedure but, like any intervention, it carries some potential risks and these are shown below.

Pain

It is common to experience some discomfort after the removal of your tunnelled line. You may notice mild pain or tenderness in the area, which you can address with regular painkillers.

If you experience any increasing pain after the procedure, please seek medical help from your team or VAU team.

Bleeding

Minor bleeding at the removal site is common. The team in the Vascular Access Unit may need to see recent blood results before the line removal; if so, your team will need to arrange the blood tests for you before the procedure. If you are on any blood-thinning medication, such as warfarin, enoxaparin, dalteparin, apixaban, edoxaban, rivaroxaban etc. then your team will need to advise you when you need to stop these prior to your line removal.

If after the line is removed, you have a dressing and it gets soaked with blood, it will need to be changed.

Infection

Although uncommon, there is a risk of infection at the removal site. If you notice any redness or discharge at the removal site, or if you have a temperature above 37.5°C, fever, chills or feel generally unwell, it could mean you have an infection. In this case, please contact your team or seek emergency help through A+E.

Retained line

If your line has been in for a very long time, sometimes it becomes embedded in the vein wall – this can make it very difficult to remove. Occasionally, we need to leave a segment of the line in the body and refer you to the vascular surgeons for further treatment.

Fractured line

Although this is very uncommon, there is a small risk of breaking the line during the procedure. If this happens, then we may need to arrange for a surgeon or a radiologist to remove the remaining line.

How is the tunnelled line removed?

Prior to the removal you will need to lay flat and the nurse or doctor will tilt the bed to prevent air entering into your bloodstream. You will be given a local anaesthetic and the area will be numb before the nurse or doctor makes a small incision in your skin to find the line. The line will be removed from your vein and the nurse or doctor will put pressure on the site to prevent bleeding. If your line is a portacath, its chamber will also be removed from the ‘pocket’ it is sitting in.

For a Hickman line removal: the small incision will be closed with dissolvable stitches and glue (or an occlusive dressing) and an occlusive dressing will be placed over the exit site (the point where the line exited your skin). (An occlusive dressing is one that creates an airtight and watertight seal over a wound, preventing air and moisture from passing through it). The dressing(s) should remain in place for 5-7 days and you should try not to get it wet during this time. You will not need to have any stitches removed.

For a portacath removal: we usually use surgical glue, which means that you can have splashes of water on the area, but it should not be submerged in water or scrubbed off. This glue will gradually peel off after 7-10 days.

MyChart

We would encourage you to sign up for MyChart. This is the electronic patient portal at Cambridge University Hospitals that enables patients to securely access parts of their health record held within the hospital’s electronic patient record system (Epic). It is available via your home computer or mobile device.

More information is available on the MyChart section of our website.

Contacts/further information

Vascular Access Unit
Outpatients
Radiology, Level 4

Tel: 01223 596020

Vascular Access Unit is located on Level 4, at the Outpatient end of the hospital.

On Level 3, next to the Ultrasound Department, you will find the lift (number 4) and stairs which will take you up to Vascular Access Unit.

Nearest bus stop – Hospital Outpatients Bus Stop or main Addenbrooke’s Hospital Bus Station.

Our opening hours are Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00.

Privacy and dignity

Same sex bays and bathrooms are offered in all wards except critical care and theatre recovery areas where the use of high-tech equipment and/or specialist one to one care is required.