Your driveline is the cable that connects your LVAD (the pump inside your chest) to its controller and power source outside your body. Keeping the exit site clean and infection-free is one of the most important things you'll do every day to protect your health with an LVAD.
What Is the Driveline?
The driveline exits your skin, usually on the right side of your abdomen, through a small surgical opening called the exit site. Because it's a permanent opening in the skin, it's also a permanent potential entry point for infection — which is why driveline care is a daily, non-negotiable habit, not an occasional chore.
Dressing Changes: General Steps
Your VAD coordinator will train you hands-on — this is a general overview, not a replacement for that training.
- Wash your hands thoroughly before you start, and wear a mask if instructed
- Set up a clean area with your dressing-change supplies laid out
- Remove the old dressing carefully, checking the exit site as you go
- Inspect the site for redness, swelling, warmth, odor, or drainage
- Clean the site using the technique your team taught you (often a chlorhexidine or similar antiseptic)
- Let it air dry fully before applying a new dressing
- Secure the driveline with an anchoring device to prevent tugging — this reduces trauma to the exit site, one of the biggest risk factors for infection
- Apply the new sterile dressing per your team's instructions
- Redness, warmth, or swelling around the exit site
- Pus-like, cloudy, or foul-smelling drainage
- New or worsening pain at the site
- Fever or chills
- The site looking different than your "normal baseline" — take photos over time to help spot changes
Everyday Habits That Protect Your Driveline
- Anchor it, always — every time you move, shower, or change clothes, make sure the line is secured, not dangling or pulling
- Keep the site dry unless you're using a specific waterproof shower setup approved by your team
- Don't submerge in pools, bathtubs, hot tubs, or open water unless your team has specifically cleared a covered method
- Avoid tight clothing or belts that rub against the site
- Carry backup equipment (batteries, controller, emergency bag) everywhere, every time — driveline care is really "system care"
Living With It
Most LVAD patients describe driveline care as something that becomes routine within a few weeks — a normal part of the morning, like brushing your teeth. The daily habit is what keeps you safe.
Common Questions
Can I ever shower normally again?
Most patients can shower using a specific covered method your team trains you on — ask about your center's protocol.
What if I accidentally get the site wet?
Dry it promptly and monitor closely; call your team if you notice any change afterward.
How long does dressing care take once I'm used to it?
Most patients report 10–15 minutes once the routine is second nature.