PICC Line Clarification

The answer to your question depends on the brand and gauge of PICC used. The Bard Power Injectable PICCs 5 french (double lumen) cathethers have ports that are the same length, while the triple lumen 6 French catheters have one lumen (the red hub) which is a little longer, but the remaining two lumens are the same length. The different ports on the PICC do indicate a separtae lumen that travels through the same vein, but yes when all the meds come out of the tip in the same place. However because of the high blood volume and pressure at that location of the SVC, it is unlikely that the meds "mix" - they simply don't have time, as they are hemodiluted too quickly. HTH

Proximal and distal would refer to the distance of the port away from the insertion site. If the ports are the same length, the distinction would not apply. If the ports differ in length, then the "proximal" port is the one that is closer to the insertion site (the shorter port); the "distal" port is the one that is further away (the longer port).

Power PICCs do not have proximal and distal lumens, they all exit at the open tip from divided lumens. These ports are red and purple. Valved PICC (groshong) catheters do have proximal and distal exit points and therefore are typically marked as such. Groshong ports are usually identified with white and grey access ports.

You can also have a mix of each type; a triple lumen PICC is usually 2 groshong lumens (grey and white ports marked distal and proximal) and 1 Power lumen (Red access port, not marked as distal although it does exit distally to the two groshong openings.

arrow piccs however are not trimable and to have separate exit lumens it depends on what brand you are using.