PICC Post Removal Instructions

A PICC line is an acronym for a peripherally inserted central catheter. It's much like an IV, except that it's inserted through the upper arm through the chest to achieve access to the venous system near the heart. PICC lines allow for multiple points of access for different drugs regimes, reduce number of needle sticks and allow for measurement of central venous pressure through one central line while minimizing the risks of infections and complications.

PICC Line Post Removal Instructions

• A PICC line should only be removed by a specially trained clinician, generally a nurse, following the order of the attending physician. Removal of a PICC line is an outpatient procedure that can occur in an acute care setting (like a hospital intensive care unit), in an outpatient facility or even in the home. Removal of the PICC line should only require several minutes and is typically painless for the patient. Occasionally removal will be complicated by a venospasm, a spasm of the vessel in which the PICC line is being removed from. The venospasm usually is resolved with time and warm, moist heat compresses to the area.

  After the PICC line is removed from the body, the wound site should be covered with sterile gauze while gentle pressure is applied. This will encourage clotting and stop any bleeding from the wound site. Before a fresh sterile dressing is applied, the exit site should be assessed for swelling, tenderness and discharge.

  After the wound site is properly covered with a new sterile dressing, the catheter length should be assessed and measured against the length at insertion. The two lengths must match to establish that no part of the catheter was broken off and left inside of the patient. If they do not match, the physician must be altered immediately to determine what the next steps will be.

  Should the two lengths match, the catheter tip itself should also be removed, placed in a sterile container and sent to the laboratory to culture for infection. If it's determined that an infection has been cultured, the physician may decide to start a course of antibiotics. The strain of the bacteria that was grown in the lab will determine the type of antibiotic that the doctor will prescribe.

  After 24 hours, the sterile dressings from the wound site should be removed and the site should again be assessed for swelling, tenderness and discharge. Any increase from the previous day could indicate an infection setting in, or some other complication, and the physician should be notified immediately.

  The site can be bandaged with fresh sterile dressing and should continue to be monitored for signs of infection until it is completely healed. Any abnormal warmth, discharge, bleeding or pain should be reported to the health care provider as it could indicate a possible complication with the wound site.