Hickman Line

For StarGirls treatment she had a hickman line inserted (operation to insert, and another for removal).

I initially decided on the Port-a-cath, however the surgeon decided she was too little, so the hickman was her only option.

StarGirls hickman only had one end (the blue one) but some people have red ends on their hickmans too.

Inside her body the hickman is split in two, one bit into the jugular in neck (surgeon makes a cut in the neck during insertion operation), and the other going into the vena cava in heart. The insertion and removal operations are very risky in themselves, let alone daily life with one!

Life with a hickman is very difficult, especially in a toddler! Even slight damage or movement to it can cause serious blood clots and worse. The hospital gave me a basic lesson in daily care and what to look for, and supplied some basic tools and clamps in case there was an accident. 

Infections are very common where the large tube goes into the chest, she got quite a few infections in the months she had it. It also can't get wet, so no baths between January and May! Some patients can have their hickman up to a few years, the plastic is quite durable, but it does deteriorate.

Whilst the hickman is in, it needs regular flushing with saline and heparin (done by a nurse) so that it keeps working.

StarGirls hickman only had the blue end, but it was used for chemotherapy, iv antibiotics, iv fluid, taking blood samples and flushing once a week.