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VASCULAR ACCESS
PICC Lines
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PICC stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter. This is a new type of central intravenous line that is put into a vein in patients’ arms, under local anesthetic. The line is inserted into one of the large veins of the arm near the bend of the elbow. It is then advanced into the vein until the tip sits in a large vein just above the heart. There are single or double lumen types that allow several different treatments to be given at the same time. At the end of the tube outside the body, each lumen has a special cap to which a drip line or syringe can be attached. There is also a clamp to keep the tube closed when it is not in use.
PICC lines can be used to give patients treatments such as antibiotics and intravenous fluids and feeding. It can also be used to take samples of blood.
PICC lines can be left in for several weeks and used in a similar way to other central lines. It can be an outpatient procedure.
Key Advantages:
- Allows repeated treatments without frequent needle insertion into veins
- Particularly useful for patients with hard to find veins
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