PICC stands for “Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter”. A PICC line is a catheter that is inserted into a vein in your upper arm. The catheter is then advanced and positioned in a large vein in your chest just above the heart.
A PICC line is placed for you to receive IV medicine for a period of time. The PICC line will prevent you from having a needle inserted in a vein each time you need medicine. Medicine is less irritating when it is placed in a large vein.
At Third Circle Medical we will review PICC line care with you. In addition, a healthcare provider will help care for your PICC line when you are at home. This may be in an outpatient clinic or home care depending on insurance. You will receive a patient booklet about how to care for your PICC line. This booklet will review important information that will help you care for your PICC line. Keep it to refer back to. If you are having pain at site, post procedure you may:
Your patient booklet describes how to clean the PICC line site and change the dressing. You may go to an outpatient clinic or have a home healthcare nurse come to your home to change the dressing. The PICC line dressing is changed once a week and as needed. When the dressing is changed the stabilization/securement device and the clear covering to secure the PICC line and the end cap where the medicine is placed will also be changed once a week and as needed.
Your patient booklet describes how to flush your PICC line with saline. This will help clean the line after medication is given via the PICC line. If your PICC line is not used often the PICC line will need to be flushed regularly.
Flushing the PICC line will help keep the line open and prevent clots. You will be instructed on how to flush the PICC line. You may go to an outpatient clinic or have a home healthcare nurse come to your home to flush the PICC line.
If you are not able to flush the PICC line, call you healthcare provider or home health nurse. Do not push the syringe against a resistance.
Your patient booklet describes how to change the injection cap. The injection cap is used to access the PICC line. This will need to be changed depending on how often your PICC line is used. You will be instructed on how to change the injection cap. You may go to an outpatient clinic or have a home healthcare nurse come to your home to change the injection cap.
Call you healthcare provider or PICC line care provider right away if you notice these signs or if you are worried or concerned.
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