PICC Line Clarification

We are working to move to an EHR and have gotten stuck on a PICC line issue. Within the program is wants us to document the PICC line ports as distal proximal etc. Is a picc actually setup like this? I know tlcs are but I thought picc are cut to length thus cutting a tip or other port? Do meds given through different ports on a picc go through two catheters within the picc or do they mix? All meds come out the very tip of the picc, correct? Any help would be great, thanks.

Jason,

BSN, mha, RN-bc, emt-p, ccrn, cen

[MunoRN, RN]

Power PICCs are open ended catheters, which look like this at the tip:

As you can see the holes are not distal and proximal. Because of the tip is open ended Power PICCs are trim-able. Non-power PICC lumens are groshong ports and exit through a slit in the side of the line and therefore are not trim-able.

Power=trim-able, non-power=non-trim-able. Groshong (non-power) PICC lumens are distal/proximal.

[caroladybelle, BSN, RN]

One of the reasons that incompatible meds can go through a PROPERLY placed PICC even if the lumens are side by side has to do with the position. When properly positioned, the extreme turbulence of blood flow mixes the drugs rapidly into the blood stream keeping them from having enough time to react in an incompatible manner.This is one of the reasons that you really want to make sure that the position is accurate, and the cath does not migrate. And if it does pull out slightly, the CXR is rechecked, and it is not used in a midline type position.

[IVRUS, BSN, RN]

...I am familiar with the broviac

PICC lines commonly are available in sizes from 2 French to 7 French????????????

Sorry, but a broviac is a tunnelled, cuffed catheter that is smaller in diameter to the Hickman so you see it in pediatrics alot.

I've never heard of a Broviac PICC.

[NicuGal, MSN, RN]

We cut our PICC's for neonates and peds and they are measured before put in and when taken out. We also use proximal or distal port on our EHR to document what is going where. It is in how they build it. Some places do it, others don't, we opted to build that into our EPIC.

[2shihtzus]

The PICC lines I put in are cut. They are either double or triple lumen (5FR for double, 6FR for triple). They are also power piccs. The lumen that can take contrast is labled. There are no distal or proximal ports. Most of the PICCs I place are between 38-45cm, depending on the size of the patient.

[Googlenurse, ASN, BSN, RN]

I thought red= blood draw

blue= med

 

was outdated information?

Because what if it was a single linen picc?

 

I just draw blood from whatever port has good blood return.