PICC lines are pretty common. You must have seen patients with those lines in healthcare facilities or a relative at home using one. But, what are PICC lines? What are they used for? In this blog, we will tell you everything about PICC lines. So, let’s get started.
Definition
The full form of PICC is Peripherally Inserted Central venous Catheters. Although there are several reasons why patients are given PICC lines, the main purpose of these lines is to provide intravenous medications for a long period of time such as for weeks, in some cases, even months.
With the help of ultrasound, catheters are introduced into your arm, in a vein in your upper arm to be precise. Although the diameter of PICC lines is small, these lines go from the arm through the veins and then into the heart. This area of placement lets the PICC lines stay in place without moving for a long time. And since the size of catheters is rather small, this makes it easier for the patient to stay comfortable and move his/her arm easily.
Procedure
Your healthcare professional will tell you everything you need to know about your PICC lines requirements. Before the procedure, he/she will tell you about the things that need to be considered such as any changes in your medications and what time and place to report for the insertion procedure. The patient is generally asked to put on a gown so that his/her clothes do not get dirty. Before numbing the area of insertion, the person in charge of the procedure will properly clean the insertion site with a disinfecting cleanser. There is no need to worry whether you or a loved one is about to go through this procedure as the person inserting the catheter always keeps the patient informed about every step of the procedure.
Care At Home
Once the procedure is completed, you will be allowed to go home with a bandage on that properly covers the dressing. It is essential to keep in mind that the dressing needs to stay intact around the insertion site. In addition to this, the dressing should always stay dry as risks of infection goes up if it becomes moist. And how frequently you need to change the dressing will be explained to you by your doctor.
PICC lines procedure is pretty simple and straightforward. The health professionals will take care of it from start to finish. Your job will be to take care of the insertion site and the dressing at home as prescribed by your doctor. Keeping the site dry is of utmost importance while you take bath or enjoy your time by the pool or lake. People often search online, ‘where to buy PICC line covers’. The best place to buy those covers is Dialysis Care Online. Our Shower Shield Catheter Water Barrier is perfect for covering dialysis, IV sites, Hickman Catheters, ports, and of course, PICC lines.
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