Do we always look for Catheter tip at the end when removing Picc lines?

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Is anybody here have more knowledge about picc lines? When I removed the Picc catheter last ,it didn't have a ti at the end and so We had to get CXR to rule out possible dislodgment of cath tip. The CXR was negative, but I am curious Are they inserting the picc in which they have been cutting tip off?

Is anybody here in IV team can help me ?:crying2:

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Specializes in cardiac/critical care/ informatics.

Yes sometimes they do cut the tip off, to the size of the patient. So It is good to have the insertion documentaion.

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Specializes in floor to ICU.

Yup. Had that happen. The tip was blunted off. The patient had the PICC inserted at a previous visit so I had to track down the insertion info in a previous record. Turns out it was cut off- whew!

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Specializes in Gerontology, Med surg, Home Health.

As an aside, don't forget to document the measurement of the catheter when you remove it and check it against the length when it was inserted. It's a DPH tag otherwise...in LTC and home care as well.

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Specializes in Med-surg; OB/Well baby; pulmonology; RTS.

I've personally had 2 PICC lines and both times before insertion, mine was trimmed. When they were d/c'd the length was compared to my records from insertion.

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