Protective guard for catheter exit site

A protective guard for covering an incision in the vicinity of the neck of a patient, comprising:

• (a) a waterproof drape having
• a generally central opening formed therein,
• a slit formed therethrough that extends outwardly from the opening,
• a first arm portion which is configured to cover a first shoulder and at least a part of which is configured to surround the circumference of an arm extending from the first shoulder, and
• a second arm portion which is configured to cover a second shoulder and at least a part of which is configured to surround the circumference of an arm extending from the second shoulder, wherein the first and second arm portions comprise arm openings formed by securing fasteners on opposite sides of a longitudinal centerline of the drape to one another, the first and second arm openings being bounded from above by a fold in the drape and from below by the mated fasteners;
• (b) a closure arrangement configured to selectively close the slit in an at least essentially watertight fashion;
• and
• (c) a waterproof collar that extends upwardly from the opening in the drape and that is configured to surround the neck of the patient in an at least essentially watertight fashion.

A method of protecting a medical incision site, the incision site being in the vicinity of the neck of a patient, the method comprising:

• (a) slipping a slit in a protective guard past the head of the patient, the guard including a waterproof drape and a waterproof collar that extends upwardly from a central opening in the drape, the slit extending at least part-way through the drape and through the collar,
• (b) surrounding the circumference of a first arm of a patient with at least a part of a first arm portion of the drape,
• (c) surrounding the circumference of a second arm of a patient with at least a part of a second arm portion of the drape,
• (d) fastening the collar about the neck of the patent in a generally watertight fashion;
• and
• (e) fastening the drape about the arms of the patent in a generally watertight fashion.