Home > Patients Resources > FAQs
Patients: Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PICC ?
PICC stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter. Your doctor has requested that you have one of these catheters placed so that you may receive the medication he or she has
prescribed.
Before you may have a PICC placed your infusion nurse or physician will answer any additional questions you may have and then have you sign a consent form.
What does a PICC look like?
A PICC is a long, soft, very flexible catheter that is placed by specially
trained nurses. The catheter starts in a vein between the elbow and the shoulder
and then follows that vein to a large vessel
in the chest called the Superior Vena
Cava. On your arm you will have a sterile
dressing and then one or two short
extensions where your nurse will infuse
your medication and/or draw blood.
|
|
Where will this procedure happen?
Most likely the entire procedure will take place in your room. Your infusion nurse
will assess your veins either by palpation (touch) or by ultrasound. The ultrasound is a painless
device that helps locate veins that are deeper in your arm using sound waves. If the infusion nurse
feels that the PICC cannot be placed in your room he or she will make arrangements for the
procedure to take place in Interventional Radiology. Most PICC line procedures are performed in a patient's room.
Will I be knocked out for this?
No. The procedure takes between 30 and 45 minutes because of the set-up of the equipment and
the sterile field. The only discomfort you will feel is the numbing of the sight with lidocaine.
Lidocaine is injected into the skin using a very small needle. This will numb the tissue so that
you won't feel the IV catheter being inserted.
Will I feel the long catheter as it goes all the way up my vein?
No. Everyone asks this question. The inner layer of you vein does not have nerves so the small
soft catheter just floats along with the blood back towards the heart. Your infusion nurse will
measure and cut the catheter prior to insertion so that it stops where it is suppose to.
Why do I need a PICC?
The small veins in your arms and hands are good for short term, mild medications and fluids. Your
physician may have determined that you need a PICC because of the strength of the medication
prescribed, the length of time you will need the medication, the availability of veins in your arms
and hands, the need for frequent blood samples or a combination of those reasons.
How will the nurse know it is in the right place?
Your infusion nurse has been trained to measure from the point where he or she plans to insert the PICC to
the area on your chest that lies over the superior vena cava. The target area is approximately 3 inches (7cm)
long. Anywhere in that area is considered a good placement. To confirm where the tip is located an x-ray will
be taken in your room or in the radiology department. If you are pregnant please inform the x-ray technician
to cover your abdomen. Once a radiologist reads the x-ray your nurse can begin to use your PICC line. The
report usually takes between one to two hours after the x-ray has been taken.
What are the risks of getting a PICC placed?
Anytime you have a needle inserted through your skin there is a risk of infection. This is why your
infusion nurse will take so much time setting up a sterile area and cleansing your skin.
After the PICC is placed we encourage you to use that arm as you normally would. This will help
decrease the chance of a blood clot forming in the vein by increasing the blood flow around the
catheter.
Most people will have a little bleeding at the insertion site, so your infusion nurse will place a small
piece of gauze under the clear dressing for 24 hours. Few people have more significant bleeding
and may need the dressing changed a few times to stop the bleeding.
Unsuccessful insertions do happen occasionally. Due to your unique anatomy or disease
process the soft flexible catheter may not be able to reach its destination. On extremely rare
occasions there could be an equipment failure that makes first attempts at insertion unsuccessful.
Your physician, primary nurse and infusion nurse will be monitoring your PICC for any complications.
Will my arm hurt tomorrow?
Probably not. Most people do not have arm pain after placement of a PICC. Few people, maybe one
in twenty experience mild to moderate soreness in their upper arm. This is most likely caused by
venospasm. This is when the muscle layer of your vein tightens around the catheter. It is most
often relieved by applying warm compresses around your upper arm to relax the vein. It feels like
a muscle that has had a workout. This can happen anytime from 12 hours after insertion to a week
later. Usually a couple days of warmth to the area relieves the spasm and the soreness goes
away.
Can I go home with a PICC line in place?
Yes. If your physician decides you need to receive IV medication at home you can go home with
your PICC line. A nurse called a Discharge Planner will assist with setting up health care services
to care for your PICC after you leave the hospital. Getting a PICC does not mean you will go home
with it. Most patients have it taken out before they leave the hospital.
What can I do to care for the PICC?
Glad you asked. Let your nurses know if you notice any of the following: pain or tenderness
in your arm, redness around the insertion site, drainage, bleeding, swelling in the arm with the PICC,
pain with fluids infusing, or change in heart rhythm.
In addition let your nurse know if the dressing on your PICC is coming off or if you feel like there is
moisture under the bandage.
Let your nurse know immediately if you think the PICC is starting to come out. Do not push the
PICC back in. Please also be sure to view our informational brochure "Protect that PICC."
Can I take a shower with the PICC in place?
Yes. If you have no other restrictions for taking a shower or bath your PICC will not prevent you from
bathing. You will need to make an effort to not soak the dressing with water. Ask your nurse for
assistance with how to cover the dressing to minimize exposure of the bandage to water. If moisture
gets under the dressing let your nurse know so it can be changed quickly.
Will I have the PICC for a long time? How do you take it out?
Most people have their PICC between one to four weeks depending on the therapy. The current
record is five years. When your physican determines that it is no longer needed a trained nurse
will remove the PICC. Removing your PICC is a simple, quick procedure performed in your room.
The most uncomfortable part of removing a PICC is taking off the dressing. The PICC usually
slides out without your knowledge.
