How to Connect a Lever Lock Cannula to PICC Line

A peripherally inserted central catheter, or PICC line is a thin, plastic tubing that is inserted into a large peripheral vein and threaded through a vein just above the heart. This catheter is placed when long term venous access is needed, such as in the case of chemotherapy or other long term treatments. The PICC line can be placed for up to 30 days and has smaller risk of infection than other long term venous access options. A lever lock cannula is a winged connection port that can be locked into the injection site for medication administration.

Things You'll Need

• Spiked IV bag
• Alcohol wipes
• Disposable gloves

Show More

Instructions

• 1

  Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and warm water. It is extremely important to maintain proper hand hygiene when working with any type of venous access device.

• 2

  Put on pair of disposable gloves. The gloves create an additional barrier between your skin and the ports of the PICC line.

• 3

  Roll the roller clamp to the closed position to shut off the flow of the IV bag when attaching a lever lock cannula to an infusion that has already started. When beginning a new infusion open it, allowing the air to clear from the line.

• 4

  Wipe all injection caps of the IV tubing and PICC line using an alcohol wipe. The injection caps are the plastic tips located at the end of each line where medication or other lines can be inserted.

• 5

  Place the lever lock end of the cannula onto the end of the IV tubing. Hold the line and the cannula on the sides to avoid touching the top portion of the locks that connects. Attach the lever lock cannula to the end of the IV tubing by applying slight pressure and twisting the tubing.

• 6

  Remove the protective plastic cap from the end of the cannula. Do not touch the end of the cannula that will be inserted into the line.

• 7

  Push the lever lock cannula into the injection cap at the end of the PICC line.

• 8

  Open the roller clamp on the IV tubing and begin the IV infusion flow at the prescribed rate.