Cannula care at home

First, what is a cannula?

A cannula is a small tube that is inserted into a vein or artery to help give medicines or fluids, take blood samples, or check blood pressure. It connects to a longer tube, often referred to as a line, that carries medicines or fluids from bags or bottles to the body. This setup is simple to change if needed.

Depending on what it's for and how long it’s needed, a cannula can be placed in different parts of the body, like the arm, hand, neck, leg, or near the shoulder. Some people might need a cannula for treatments they continue to receive at home.

It’s important to observe and take care of the cannula, to make sure that it continues to work properly and to help prevent any infection. Here are some things to keep in mind:

• Cannulas are secured in place with a clear sticky plastic dressing. This should stay in place (but can be replaced) for the whole time the cannula is in use.
• A splint may be used to secure the cannula more and make sure it doesn’t move. A splint is used if the cannula is inserted into a vein in a part of the body which bends (like the elbow or wrist).
• A bandage may be placed over the dressing to provide further protection. If this is the case, make sure the bandage covers the cannula and keeps the whole area protected. If the bandage becomes wet or dirty, replace it. When bathing or washing, make sure the dressing and bandage remain clean and dry.
• Avoid pulling on the cannula or any attached lines, as this can cause the cannula to move out of place, stop working, or to be pulled out completely.
• Note that a healthcare professional should always inspect the cannula site and its dressing before administering any medication or fluids through it.

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❗ People with blood clotting issues or taking blood thinning medication should seek detailed advice from their healthcare team about managing a cannula at home. ❗

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Things to look out for

• If a small amount of blood leaks from the cannula onto the dressing, it’s not an emergency, but the dressing should be changed. Contact the healthcare team for advice.
• If the plastic dressing gets wet or dirty, it should be replaced promptly. Contact the healthcare team for assistance.
• If the cap comes off, or a line becomes disconnected and blood starts leaking from the tube, put on clinical style gloves and try to reattach the tube, line or cap (they screw on). That is only if they’re clean. If they’re dirty, apply gentle pressure above the cannula to stop the blood flow and contact the healthcare team.
• If the cannula comes out completely, there might be a slight bleeding, but this is not a major problem. Remove any remaining dressing and the cannula, then cover the area with gauze or a tissue and apply slight pressure. Once the bleeding stops, put a plaster/band-aid on it, and contact the healthcare team.

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Possible signs of infection

The healthcare team should be contacted ASAP if you notice any of the following symptoms:

• The skin around the cannula becomes itchy, hot, red, sore, swollen, white, or hard.
• A noticeable red line following the vein where the cannula is placed.
• Pain in or around the cannula site, or in the arm or leg where the cannula is located.
• The cannula site leaks more than a small amount of blood or fluids, which doesn’t stop by itself.
• A body rash, flushed red face or any itching develops.
• Fever. An abnormally high temperature (over 38℃/100.4℉).

Do not hesitate to reach out to a medical professional if you are at all concerned. Any significant change in symptoms, or the sudden onset of new symptoms, should be evaluated as soon as possible by a healthcare professional.