sheridan07
Well-known member
Thanks for the info
Picc Lines
- Thread starter geckley
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Adrienne
Well-known member
When I had endocarditis, I had a PICC line which I went home with. The outsie part of the catheter had to be changed regularly, but the part of the catheter which was inside my body stayed in there for 6 weeks, 4 weeks on penicillin, and another two weeks when it was regularly irrigated with saline solution. They kept it in the extra two weeks so they could do a culture at the end of that time and make sure the infection was really gone before they took out the PICC line.
Ross
Well-known member
Benefits
A PICC line can be cared for at home and can stay in place for many weeks, or months, if needed.
The risk of infection is low.
You can get fluids to hydrate you and give you nutrition, blood transfusions, and medicines, like chemotherapy or antibiotics.
A PICC line can be used to get blood tests, without another needle "stick."
There is a smaller chance of irritation and damage to your veins and blood vessels from many blood draws, IV insertions, and IV medicines.
http://www.cpmc.org/learning/documents/nur-piccline-ws.html#What is a PICC Line?
A PICC line can be cared for at home and can stay in place for many weeks, or months, if needed.
The risk of infection is low.
You can get fluids to hydrate you and give you nutrition, blood transfusions, and medicines, like chemotherapy or antibiotics.
A PICC line can be used to get blood tests, without another needle "stick."
There is a smaller chance of irritation and damage to your veins and blood vessels from many blood draws, IV insertions, and IV medicines.
http://www.cpmc.org/learning/documents/nur-piccline-ws.html#What is a PICC Line?
briansmom
Well-known member
Thanks for correcting me guys. I am obviously mis-remembering what kind of line that they put in Brian that they said couldn't stay for long. They put it in because they were having problems finding a vein for blood draws etc. I remember that it was done in his room but was a "sterile procedure" and the tech was gowned, etc.
Justin had a pic line for his BE and of course being Justin, when the home nurse tried to pull it at the end of 6 weeks, it kinked up and got stuck in his arm, hanging 1/2 way out. Of course none of the local ERs would touch it since they didn't put it in, so we had to drive 1 hour in a blizzrd to get it out. They almost had to take him to the OR and cut it out, but decided to try knocking him out and pulling it HARD with the OR on stand by incase it broke. It was awful, even tho he was asleep when they yanked it he screamed (I was holding his hand and i thought he was going to crush mine), like I never heard him before or since. but they got it out and at least he didn't have to have surgery. he didn't remember it which was a Blessing.
Then just for fun, the following weekend we took him snowboarding since he missed his scout trip because of the pic line. of course while he was walking out of the lodge after lunch an adult was carrying their board over their shoulder turned quickly and whacked Justin in the face knocking a tooth out, you should have heard his PC when we called and asked for antibiotics.
Then just for fun, the following weekend we took him snowboarding since he missed his scout trip because of the pic line. of course while he was walking out of the lodge after lunch an adult was carrying their board over their shoulder turned quickly and whacked Justin in the face knocking a tooth out, you should have heard his PC when we called and asked for antibiotics.
