Avoid strenuous work like lifting objects more than 10 pounds. Keep your pets away from your PICC lines. If you don't care for your PICC line properly, you could develop complications such as occlusions (blockage), phlebitis (inflammation of a vein), thrombosis (blood clots), hemorrhage (bleeding), and infection.Correspondingly, what can you not do with a PICC line?
Avoid strenuous activity or activities that have constant arm movement, such as: moving heavy objects over 10 pounds or 4.5 kilograms; jumping jacks; weight lifting; or vacuuming. Performing these activities may cause the PICC to block or the tip of the PICC to no longer be in the correct position.
Likewise, how do you protect a PICC line? Ask the nurse for an arm protector to keep your arm dry when you shower. Do not submerge your PICC line arm in water. Do not swim or go in a hot tub with a PICC line. Do not have blood drawn from the Groshong PICC line.
Also know, can you drive with a PICC line?
If your line is being placed as an outpatient you will be asked to attend the Medical Treatment Unit (MTU). You may eat as normal and if possible, have plenty of water to drink prior to the procedure. You may drive yourself although you may wish to have someone with you for company.
How long can you keep a PICC line in?
The PICC line can stay in your arm for as long as 12 months, although the average length is usually about 6 months, depending on your treatment requirements. Care of the PICC Line.
How often does a PICC line need to be flushed?
The PICC needs to be flushed once weekly with 10mls of 0.9% Sodium Chloride to maintain patency when not in use or after any infusion or bolus injection. There is no need to withdraw blood into the syringe prior to a routine flush with saline (RCN 2010).Can I shower with a PICC line?
If they get sprinkled with water you'll probably be ok but if you have water running over the edges/ends you'll get wet. The whole point is to keep a picc line DRY. If they don't keep it dry they're no good.How dangerous is a PICC line?
Infection: An infection may form at the insertion site, an event that is more likely the longer the PICC line remains in place. Blood Clot: Blood clots can form on the tip of the PICC line, if these clots break free they can travel through the heart to the lung, a condition called a Pulmonary Embolism (PE).Can you take a blood pressure on an arm with a PICC line?
* Don't take the patient's blood pressure on the arm with the PICC. Cuff pressure can cause bleeding at the insertion site, increase the risk of thrombus formation, and cause retrograde blood flow, raising the risk of catheter occlusion.Are you sedated for a PICC line?
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) is most often used to deliver medication over a long period. The doctor or nurse inserts the PICC line, which is a thin tube, into a vein in the arm. Children who are not sedated are given a local anesthetic to numb the area where the catheter is inserted.Why does a PICC line go to the heart?
A PICC line gives your doctor access to the large central veins near the heart. It's generally used to give medications or liquid nutrition. A PICC line can help avoid the pain of frequent needle sticks and reduce the risk of irritation to the smaller veins in your arms.Do they put you to sleep for a PICC line?
Your PICC will be put in by a doctor or nurse. First, you will get a numbing injection (shot) where your PICC will be placed. You won't need general anesthesia (medication to make you sleep). They will place the PICC into a vein in your arm and gently move the end of the PICC into a vein near your heart (see Figure 1).What is the alternative to a PICC line?
PICC Line Alternatives: The most common alternative is a portacath, also known as a port.How painful is PICC line insertion?
The PICC nurse will use an ultrasound machine to locate the best vein in your arm to place the PICC line. This will not hurt. Once the area is identified your arm will be cleaned with a strong antiseptic. The area above the vein will be anesthetized with lidocaine through a small needle.What is the difference between a port and a PICC line?
A PICC line is a longer catheter that's also placed in the upper arm. Its tip ends in the largest vein of the body, which is why it's considered a central line. A port is a catheter that's implanted surgically under the skin on the chest. It's another type of central line.Can a PICC line cause a blood clot?
PICC line. These blood clots can form in the arms of patients with PICC devices, causing pain, blocking the IV line and, most dangerous of all, potentially breaking off and traveling to the lungs.What exercise can you do with a PICC line?
The PICC is a long thin tube that may stay in your arm for weeks or months. Follow the advice from your doctor or physiotherapist about doing general exercise such as walking and biking. This handout describes exercises for your arm and shoulder with the PICC.Why do patients need a PICC line?
Why is a PICC line important? It is important because it provides an efficient means for those who require chemotherapy, intravenous medication or fluids for a long period. It is also used when one requires frequent blood sampling.Is a PICC line the same as a Hickman line?
PICC lines usually go in the arm, but they are smaller in size and may not be suitable for all medications. PICC lines block more easily than Hickman lines and a PICC may cause the vein in your arm to clot.Can you eat before PICC line insertion?
Can I eat and drink before having my PICC inserted? We recommend a light diet before having your PICC inserted.Can a PICC line cause a heart attack?
Very rare complications of PICC include pulmonary or air embolism, catheter fragment embolism, and perforation of the right atrium or SVC causing cardiac tamponade. Thus far, case reports in the medical literature have described arterial PICC placement with the catheter tip central to the carotid or vertebral arteries.What happens if PICC line moves?
The PICC line can move out of position if it is not secured in place (with sutures). There is a risk of vein clotting (thrombosis) or vein inflammation (phlebitis). You may get an infection at the insertion site or in your bloodstream. The catheter may need to be removed and you may need antibiotics. 
