What it means
In anatomy, a sheath covers and protects, like the myelin sheath around nerve fibers or the sheath around a tendon. In procedures such as cardiac catheterization, a sheath is placed in an artery or vein, often in the groin or wrist, so catheters and wires can be passed in and out without new punctures.
For the nurse
After an arterial sheath is removed, check the site for bleeding and swelling, check pulses, color and warmth below the site, and keep the limb straight for the ordered time.
In a chart
"Right femoral sheath removed at 1400; site soft, no hematoma, pedal pulses 2+."
At a glance
| Also written | sheaths |
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Related terms
catheter
A thin, flexible tube put into the body to drain fluid out or to put fluid or drugs in.
hematoma
A collection of blood, often clotted, that has leaked out of the blood vessels into the tissue.
myelin
The fatty covering wrapped around many nerve fibers that protects them and speeds up their signals.