A PICC is defined as a Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter. A PICC is a special IV Catheter. It is put in an arm vein and ends in a large vein.

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Everything is kept sterile when a PICC is put in. Afterwards, a chest X-ray is taken to make sure that the end of the catheter is in the right place. A PICC may stay in for many weeks or months.

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The PICC can be used to:

•  Give IV fluids, nutrition, and medicines

• Give blood products

• Take blood for tests

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Some PICCs are Power-PICCs. They can also be used in a CT Scan or MRI to give contrast medicine.

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What activities should I NOT do while I have a PICC?

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While you have a PICC:

• Do not do any contact sports.

• Do not do activities that use your arm muscles. This includes weight lifting, vacuuming, bowling, golf, or tennis.

• Limit activities that may cause excessive sweating. This may loosen your dressing.

• Do not swim or soak in a tub.

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PICC Care

Showering and Bathing

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Keep your PICC dry! You may take baths or showers, but your PICC and all of its connections must be completely covered to be sure that the PICC and its dressing remain dry.

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Keeping everything dry will help prevent it from getting infected or from accidentally coming out.

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• Do NOT get your catheter or dressing wet.

• Do NOT allow your PICC to go under water in a pool or tub.

• To protect your PICC from getting wet in the shower or bath, cover it completely with a plastic wrap.

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If your dressing gets wet, the dressing needs to be changed right away. Call your health care or Home Care Nurse to arrange to have your PICC dressing changed.

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Flush Your PICC!

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Each lumen of your PICC needs to be flushed once a day with a Heparin Flush. A lumen is a small tube within your catheter. Your health care provider or your Home Care Nurse will teach you how to flush your PICC.*

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Keep Things Clean

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• Before you touch your PICC, always wash and dry your hands or use an alcohol-based hand rub.

• Store your supplies in a clean and dry space.

• Follow any specific instructions that you have been taught.

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Catheter Care

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Take care of your PICC every day. This will help prevent infection and help prevent clots from forming inside your catheter.

• Only persons who have been trained by a nurse should take care of or use your catheter.

• You will receive patient education information before you leave. If you do

  not, please ask your nurse.

• If you will have home care after your procedure, check with your provider

  to make sure that it has been arranged.

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Remember:

• Keep your PICC dry.

• Flush your catheter.

• Change your catheter caps

• Keep things sterile.

• Check your PICC dressing daily to make sure it is not loose.

• DO NOT use sharp objects, like scissors, knives, or safety pins around your catheter. These can damage your catheter.

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Danger Signs

Call your health care or Home Care Nurse RIGHT AWAY if:

• Your dressing gets wet, soiled, or becomes loose

• Your catheter appears to be coming out

• Your catheter becomes kinked or hard to flush

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Call your doctor RIGHT AWAY for any signs of infection:

• You have redness or warmth around your catheter

• You have chills or a fever of 100.5o F or higher

• You have bleeding, swelling, or drainage around your catheter

• Your arm becomes swollen

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Remember!

•  Keep your PICC dry.

• Flush your PICC daily.

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Call Right Away!

• If your dressing gets wet, soiled, or becomes loose  

• If your catheter appears to be coming out

• If your catheter becomes kinked or hard to flush

• If you have redness or warmth around your catheter

• If you have chills or a fever of 100.5o F or higher

• If you have bleeding, swelling, or drainage around your catheter

• If your arm becomes swollen