Post-surgical protection of the arm is important in a variety of conditions.
Obvious conditions occur following when a significant surgery or procedure has been performed on an upper extremity. In these cases, invasive procedures involving injections, needles sticks, phlebotomy and/or IV or PICC line placements are usually best avoided for a minimum period of 6 weeks after the area has completely healed and been cleared for use by the patient’s surgeon or medical provider.
Other conditions are not as obvious and may require lifelong protection of the arm. For example, in the treatment of breast cancer with mastectomy or lumpectomy, lymphatic drainage complications may occur for the lifetime of the patient following the surgery. In these patients, upper extremity care and safety becomes a lifetime concern of paramount importance.
Likewise, following placement of an AV fistula graft for hemodialysis access, the graft generally takes several months to “mature”. In this time period, it is especially important that no access occur to the graft. Once the graft has matured, although it can be used for hemodialysis access it is wise to reserve the graft for this purpose only and not for routine blood draws and generally never for IV or PICC line access.
Post-surgical care where protection of the upper extremity is needed can also occur in a variety of other conditions such as following automobile trauma or where disruption of arterial, vein or nerve surfaces has occurred or in any extremity with retained edema or infection. In these patients the upper extremity may be especially prone to a variety of insults that can be exacerbated by needle sticks, blood draws, IV and PICC lines and occlusive devices such as blood pressure cuffs.
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