I like Hypafix® because when it’s time to take it off, you can use the adhesive dissolver where it’s stuck to the skin, and even without the dissolver, it comes off more easily and gently than the Tegaderm®. The nurses at our oncology clinic use this all the time. Our local clinic and hospital do not use Hypafix®, so I bought a roll and take it with me whenever we have to go locally for a port access so we don’t have to use the Tegaderm®.

Apryl has had skin tears and reactions from the adhesives as a result of using Tegaderm®. We were using Primapore® dressings for a while, but after a year she started having the same reaction. When she had her line replaced, I asked for a consultation with the skincare nurse. She recommended All-Dress®. It is a waterproof dressing with non-stick gauze in the center surrounded by Hypafix® tape. Apryl changes hers once every 3 days, whether it gets wet or not. She also has this pink tape that has zinc oxide in the adhesive to protect the skin. These two have worked out great.

Using adhesive dissolver (or peeling off tape or Tegaderm® millimeter by millimeter) takes a bit of time—it’s not just a swipe—and it works. It has to sort of soak in and takes some time to dissolve the sticky stuff. I know the nurses are really busy and under pressure to keep on time schedules, so it’s probably a conflict for them. I deal with this by always being the one to get the Tegaderm® off. This took some “muscling in” with nurses who were used to doing it, but it works much, much better. I try to make a joke of it: “I have a deal with my kid that I’m taking off the Tegaderm®. It might take a while and I wouldn’t want you to fall asleep waiting on us—how about if I holler out the door when it’s off and we’re ready?” That way they don’t have to stand around and wait, and you don’t feel like you need to hurry your child.

When Scott (age 3) was diagnosed, his doctor gave us a choice of which central line we could use. He showed us a mannequin with a Broviac® and a PORT-A-CATH®. He also told us the pros and cons of each type, then asked us to decide. We chose the Broviac®, and feel it was the best decision for Scott. The day it was installed was the end of a lot of unnecessary pain (from needle sticks) for Scott.

Scott finished all his treatments 3 months ago, and yesterday he had his Broviac® removed. It went extremely smoothly. He had only one cuff and it was halfway out already. And to think I fretted and worried about the removal all week!