It is not usually appropriate to suture these devices in situ, as they can be adequately secured with Steri‐Strips or catheter securement devices such as a StatLock or Grip‐Lok (Luo et al. [282], Perucca [369], Ullman et al. [448]). The insertion site can then be covered with a semi‐permeable transparent IV film dressing and changed according to the manufacturer's recommendations, for example once a week. The device should be flushed with 0.9% sodium chloride after each use and according to the manufacturer's recommendations, for example weekly.

Midline catheters can be left in situ for extended periods of time; the optimal time interval for removal of a midline catheter is unknown (Hadaway [194]), although most manufacturers advise an indwelling time of 28 days. Therefore, it is recommended that maximum dwell times should be limited to 2–4 weeks (Chopra et al. [77], Gorski et al. [181], RCN [381]). Longer dwell times should be decided on the basis of a site assessment, the anticipated duration of the therapy and the patient's condition (Gorski et al. [181], Kupensky [254]). Once in situ, the catheter should be managed exactly like a CVC. If a patient goes home with a midline then they should receive information about all aspects of the care of the catheter, including equipment and support (see ‘Discharging patients home with a VAD in situ’ above).