Picc Line Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
The PICC line is a medical innovation that can help patients receive their medical treatments at home, requiring less time spent in the hospital. As with any apparatus inserted into the body, there are many questions a patient will ask. What is a PICC line and what does it do? What is involved in having a PICC line? This brief guide will help to explain when a PICC line is used, plus the benefits and risks associated with this device.
What is a PICC line?
PICC is an acronym that stands for peripherally inserted central catheter; a long thin plastic tube that is used to dispense medication into a patient intravenously or through their veins. The term peripheral refers in this case to the location of a peripheral vein, usually in the upper arm. The tube is inserted to the point of reaching the larger central vein in the chest area close to the heart; where the tube will pump the fluid into the central vein.
How does it work?
The PICC line acts as a conduit, pumping the correct amount of medications on a continual basis. Possible uses include chemotherapy treatments, antibiotic dosages, pain medications, nutrition fluids, and sometimes a combination of these medications depending on the patient's needs. The PICC line can be left in the body for a few weeks or even a few months subject to regular changing of exterior bandages that hold the tube in place at the point where it is inserted. These bandages are changed to prevent the possibility of infection.
Who uses it and when?
This catheter method helps patients needing long term antibiotic intake, cancer patients on chemotherapy, or those unable to eat solid foods. Some people have veins that are too small or hard to find and have difficult with larger catheter tubes. A small minority may have very tough veins because of previous intravenous sessions and the PICC line is easier to insert in these cases.
Inserting and removing
The PICC line is inserted by a trained professional who will first numb the area of the upper arm and insert a needle into one of the peripheral veins. Once the area is sufficiently numbed, the PICC line is threaded through the needle insertion point into the peripheral vein. The catheter tube is then gently pushed through the vein until the line reaches the larger central vein near the heart. To finish the insertion procedure, the catheter tube is held in place with sterile bandages. This is usually done in a few minutes with little if any discomfort for the patient.
Later, the PICC line is removed by the healthcare professional who will slowly pull the catheter tube out of the body. Sometimes there may be a little bit of resistance because the catheter has been in the body for a while, but at no time should the line ever be pulled or jerked. To do so would cause pain and possibly break the catheter tube. The tube is measured against those taken before insertion to make sure that no pieces of the tube have broken off in the body. Next the professional will very carefully examine for possible signs of infection on the skin and at the end of the tube. Finally bandages are applied to insertion point to help the skin heal.
Benefits of the PICC line
- It can be used long term compared to the more cumbersome catheters.
- The PICC line is less invasive than traditional catheters allowing for greater patient comfort.
- There is a decreased risk of infection as only a very small opening is required to allow the tube to enter the body.
- Many patients can go home earlier with PICC line, avoiding lengthy and costly hospital stays.
- Using one needle to insert the catheter means less discomfort for the patient, especially those who are uncomfortable receiving needles but would normally need to do so for their medications.
Risks of the PICC line
- Phlebitis is an infection that can occur at the point where the tube was inserted but this is generally due to poor methods of keeping the bandages changed and cleaned. The area will be red and there may be swelling or discharge if infected.
- Clots (thrombosis) are rare, but they may occur at the point where the tip of the catheter tube meets with the vein closer to the heart. Patients should be vigilant for any swelling or tenderness in the arm, chest or neck areas especially on the side of the body where the PICC line was put in.
- Air may become trapped in the veins when the tube is inserted causing lowered blood pressure, dizziness, confusion, and shortness of breath.
- Catheter tube breakages are rare, but small parts of the tube can become separated while in the body. This reinforces how important it is to carefully remove the PICC line.
Patients generally would rather be at home than undergo a lengthy hospital stay. In the past, there were no alternatives for those who needed to receive medications intravenously. The PICC line allows patients continue their medical care in the comfort of their home, and is far less invasive and uncomfortable compared to traditional catheters. With minimal supervision under a trained professional, patients can receive the treatment they need without the inconvenience, discomfort, and isolation.
www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Linesports/PICCline
http://picclinenursing.com/picc_lines.html
