PICC Line Question

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Not as familiar with PICC lines as regular CVL's. Quick question: in a PICC line with 2 separate ports, can 2 separate and totally incompatible infusions be going at the same time? Such as blood and TPN/lipids or incompatible antibiotics?

Thanks!

[memphispanda, RN]

It may depend on the type of PICC line, but we use several different ones and all of them have the lumens divided until the fluid exits the line. So we are able to hang incompatible things at the same time.

[UCDSICURN]

Yes, double lumen picc's have 2 separate lumens. The lumens exit at different spots on the catheter, hence the distal and proximal ports. Proper placement is with the tip in the superior vena cava. The rate of mixture with blood in the SVC is extremely high, and infusing 2 incompatible products at once is not a problem.

Hope this helps.

Donn C.

[VickyRN, MSN, DNP, RN]

Thanks. That was what I thought. Going to do a literature search on this subject for my students. Can anyone recommend any good articles on PICC lines?

[zacarias, ASN, RN]

It may depend on the type of PICC line, but we use several different ones and all of them have the lumens divided until the fluid exits the line. So we are able to hang incompatible things at the same time.

I agree with above posters. One thing to note is if you are drawing blood from one of the PICC ports for labs (lytes etc), you need to flush the other lumen well otherwise results can be altered from TPN or whatever.