Is a PICC line dangerous?

• Bleeding.
• Nerve injury.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Damage to veins in your arm.
• Blood clots.
• Infection.
• A blocked or broken PICC line.

The incidence of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) for PICCs is between 5 and 15 percent for hospitalized patients and 2 and 5 percent for ambulatory patients [12,19]. Studies that screen for PICC-related DVT using weekly surveillance, regardless of the presence of symptoms, report rates of DVT as high as 33 percent [14].

Putting in a PICC line takes about 15–20 minutes.

It is commonly called a PICC line. It is used to give medicine, nutrition, IV fluids, and chemotherapy. A PICC infection can lead to sepsis. Sepsis is a life-threatening condition.

Very rare complications of PICC include pulmonary or air embolism, catheter fragment embolism, and perforation of the right atrium or SVC causing cardiac tamponade. Stroke, as a complication of upper-extremity PICC-line placement, is exceedingly rare with only two reports described in the medical literature.

Warmth, swelling, redness, or pain on the PICC line arm or at the insertion site. If you are unable to flush the catheter. If your dressing becomes soiled, wet, or begins to lift. If your PICC line is damaged or broken, secure the end with paper tape and go to the nearest Emergency Department.

PICC lines or “peripherally inserted central catheters” are an intravenous (IV) catheter inserted into a vein in the arm, to reach the area just outside the heart, and generally, should not hurt.

Irritation of the heart: If the line is too close to the heart, or in the heart, it can irritate the heart and cause a cardiac arrhythmia, an abnormal heart rhythm. If the problem is not diagnosed quickly, the PICC line rubbing against the beating heart can cause damage to the heart muscle or valves.

For PICCs, this will usually means the tip moves inward, into the right atrium. This can cause the cardiac flutter feeling or your patient may complain of feeling a fast or irregular heartbeat.

Having a PICC shouldn’t keep you from doing your normal activities, such as work, school, sexual activity, showering, and mild exercise. Avoid contact sports, such as football and soccer, while your PICC is in place. Ask your doctor or nurse about any activities before you start them.

At home, you need to take care of your PICC to keep it working. Because a PICC line has a high infection risk, you must take extra care washing your hands and preventing the spread of germs. This sheet will help you remember what to do to care for your PICC at home.

You can shower provided that the PICC line has a dressing and in addition you cover the PICC with plastic wrap to protect it from getting wet. Submerging your arm with the PICC in a bath is not recommended as it increases your risk of developing an infection.

Severe breathlessness or sleepiness. It feels like you’re going to die or pass out. Skin mottled or discoloured. An extremely high or a very low temperature; repeated vomiting; seizures; and a rash which doesn’t fade when you press a glass against it are also possible ‘red flags’.

The advantage of having a port over having a PICC or peripheral IV is that it is a long-term device. A port lasts for many years and may be used repeatedly. When IV access is not needed it stays in place and there is less maintenance. The port does not interfere with your daily activities.

Complications that can occur after PICC line placement include: Air Embolism: During insertion of the PICC central line, air bubbles can enter the bloodstream causing a decrease in blood pressure, confusion, increased heart rate, chest pain or shortness of breath.

What will happen after the procedure? Your health care provider will apply firm pressure for about 5 to 10 minutes to the site until the bleeding stops. After the bleeding stops, your health care provider will put a bandage over the site.

Find a comfortable sleeping position: It’s generally best to sleep on your back to prevent any friction or movement to the port, but some prefer to sleep on their side. If you must sleep in any position other than flat on your back, sleep on your non-port side.

On MDsave, the cost of a Non-tunneled Peripheral Venous Catheter (PICC) ranges from $1,892 to $3,136. Those on high deductible health plans or without insurance can save when they buy their procedure upfront through MDsave.

You can resume normal activities as advised by staff, but avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activities and repetitive movements. your PICC line in water; so no swimming or having a bath. You may resume driving but it is always wise to check with your insurance company.

Use warm compresses: The area where the PICC or midline was inserted may feel sore. Use a warm compress to decrease pain and swelling in your arm. You can make a warm compress by wetting a small towel with hot water. Wring out the extra water, wrap the towel in plastic, and put it on the area.

You will be able to bend and use your arm as normal while the PICC is in place, but you will need to follow some precautions to ensure your PICC stays in place and functions well. Do not carry heavy weights (more than 5lbs). Do not exercise vigorously with your arm while the PICC is in place.

PICC-related bloodstream infections (BSI) rates of 2.1 per 1000 catheter-days in hospitalized patients and 1.0 per 1000 catheter-days in outpatient setting are reported [11]. Recent studies suggest that PICC-related BSI are less frequent than with other CVCs [12–14].

Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). A PICC is a thin, flexible tube that is inserted into a vein in the upper arm and guided (threaded) into a large vein above the right side of the heart called the superior vena cava.

You also need to avoid heavy lifting with the arm in which the PICC line or Midline is placed. The site should be kept dry and as such, when you bathe or shower, tape plastic wrap or a plastic bag over it.

What is a PICC line Cover? … A PICC line cover for daily use will help conceal the PICC line, hubs, and all the medical dressings that can make a patient uncomfortable and self-conscious to others. PICC Cover Fashions TM is the original picc line cover designed to keep your PICC line covered, safe, and secure.

Take Antibiotics as Directed An infection can also turn into sepsis when a prescribed antibiotic is ineffective.

If people with bacteremia have fever, a rapid heart rate, shaking chills, low blood pressure, gastrointestinal symptoms (such as abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea), rapid breathing, and/or become confused, they probably have sepsis or septic shock.

The three stages of sepsis are: sepsis, severe sepsis, and septic shock. When your immune system goes into overdrive in response to an infection, sepsis may develop as a result.