Chest CT tomography vs. intracavitary electrocardiogram guidance in predicting the length of PICC placement.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate chest computed tomography (CT) compared to intracavitary electrocardiogram (ECG) in predicting the length of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement and analyzing the accuracy of the positioning methods. METHODS: This study included a total number of 436 patients who underwent PICC placement. The patients enrolled were randomly divided into two groups: ECG group (n = 218, received IC-ECG) and chest CT group (n = 218, received chest CT). The tip length of the catheter in the superior vena cava, the measured length of the catheter and the actual insertion length of the catheter were observed and recorded in the two groups. RESULTS: The best catheterization rate of tip positioning and the one-time placement rate of tip positioning in ECG group were significantly higher than that in the chest CT group (all P < 0.05). The comfort level and satisfaction rate in ECG group was significantly higher than that of chest CT group (all P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Accurate catheterization length could be achieved by both chest CT and intracavitary electrocardiogram guidance in the process of predicting PICC placement length. However, IC-ECG guided procedure was more worthy of promotion in clinic.

Appropriateness of Replacing Fluoroscopic Guidance With ECG-Electromagnetic Guidance for PICC Insertion: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

OBJECTIVE. Coupled ECG-electromagnetic (EM) guidance shows promise for use in placement of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) when compared with the classic blind technique. However, ECG-EM guidance has not been appropriately compared with the reference standard of fluoroscopy (FX) guidance. Here, we aimed to compare ECG-EM guidance with FX guidance with regard to the final tip position of PICCs. SUBJECTS AND METHODS. A total of 120 patients (age range, 19-94 years) referred for PICC placement were randomized to the ECG-EM or FX group. All interventions were performed by PICC team members who had the same standardized training and experience. Final tip position was assessed using chest radiography and was classified as optimal, suboptimal, or inadequate requiring repositioning on the basis of the distance from the PICC tip to the cavoatrial junction (CAJ). Statistical analyses were performed using the Mann-Whitney U test for final catheter tip position (mean distance from CAJ) and Fisher and chi-square tests for proportions. RESULTS. PICCs were successfully inserted in 118 patients (53 men and 65 women). Catheter tip positions were optimal or suboptimal in 100% of the FX group and 77.2% of the ECG-EM group. Furthermore, precision of placement was significantly better (p = .004) in the FX group (mean distance from the PICC tip to the CAJ = 0.83 cm) than in the ECGEM group (mean distance from the PICC tip to the CAJ = 1.37 cm). Thirteen (22.8%) of the PICCs placed using ECG-EM guidance, all of which were inserted from the left side, were qualified as inadequate requiring repositioning and required another intervention. CONCLUSION. Our results revealed significant differences in final tip position between the ECG-EM and FX guidance techniques and indicate that ECG-EM guidance cannot appropriately replace FX guidance among unselected patients. However, ECGEM guidance could be considered as an acceptable technique for patients in whom the PICC could be inserted from the right side. TRIAL REGISTRATION. ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03652727.

[Progress Report on Cases of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Management in Our Hospital, Including Elderly Patients].

AIM: In our hospital, the number of cases in which peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are used has increased; these patients include elderly people who cannot take medications orally, patients with low levels of awareness, and patients with dysphagia. We report the situation at this time mainly with regard to the number of days on which PICCs were used. METHODS: Fifteen elderly patients (male, n=7; female, n=8; average age, 89.3±5.3 years) underwent PICC insertion at our hospital from August 2016 to October 2018. Among these patients, 6 had cerebrovascular disorders, 5 had aspiration pneumonia, 2 had Parkinson's syndrome, 1 had consciousness disorder resulting from asphyxia caused by foreign body aspiration, and 1 had interstitial pneumonia. Seven patients received home management. In each patient, we measured the length of time that the PICC was in place. RESULTS: The average duration for which a PICC was in place was 92.9±25.4 days (in cases of home care management, 159.5±48.3 days). The longest duration was 342 days, in a patient with aspiration pneumonia. The endpoints were death and discharge from hospital. Complications/accidents occurred as a result of catheter infection in 2 cases (both patients recovered after catheter removal) and as a result of self-extraction in 1 case. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that PICC is useful and does not cause serious adverse effects, even in elderly patients who require central parenteral nutrition management.

Impact of subcutaneous tunnels on peripherally inserted catheter placement: a multicenter retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the impact of subcutaneous tunneling on peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in terms of central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). METHODS: Our dual-facility central institutional review board approved this retrospective study. We compared 302 of 327 consecutive recipients (mean age [± SD], 68.0 ± 15.9 years; men, 134; women, 168) of tunneled PICCs (October 2017 to May 2018) with 309 of 328 consecutive recipients (mean age, 68.7 ± 14.6 years; men, 142; women, 167) of conventional PICCs (April 2016 to September 2017). Tunnels were made near puncture sites (~ 1 in. away) using hemostats or puncture needles. In each group, procedure times and rates of complications, including CLABSI, entry-site infection, dislocation, thrombophlebitis, and occlusion, were examined. Risk factors for CLABSI were analyzed via logistic and Cox regression models. RESULTS: Subcutaneous tunnels were achieved in all patients, enabling successful peripheral vein cannulations. Group procedure times were similar (p = 0.414). CLABSI proved to be significantly less frequent after tunneling (8/6972 catheter-days) than after conventional (28/7574 catheter-days) PICC placement (adjusted hazard ratio = 0.328; 95% confidence interval, 0.149-0.721). Other risk factors (i.e., age, gender, comorbidity, PICC duration, veins, hospital stay, and intensive care unit stay) showed no significant correlations with CLABSI. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with conventional means, a subcutaneous tunneling approach for PICC placement significantly reduces the rate of CLABSI. KEY POINTS: • Subcutaneous tunnels created to place peripherally inserted central catheters significantly reduced catheter-associated bloodstream infections. • Subcutaneous tunnel creation did not significantly prolong procedural time. • There were no subcutaneous tunnel-related complications.

Service development of a nurse-led community-based PICC insertion service.

Patients receiving intravenous therapy require reliable venous access. Typically patients with poor peripheral access or requiring long-term treatment from an outpatient antibiotic therapy (OPAT) service need to receive secondary care input for safe central line placement, and radiological confirmation of the correct line tip placement where necessary, if treatment is to proceed as planned. Technological developments that enable accurate ultrasound-guided vein selection and electrocardiograph (ECG)-guided central line tip placement have eliminated the need for radiological or fluoroscopic confirmation of correct tip placement for peripherally placed central catheters (PICCs). This article outlines the development of an out-of-hospital nurse-led PICC insertion service using the Sherlock 3CG® Tip Confirmation System (C.R Bard) to meet the needs of patients requiring long-term intravenous treatment from an OPAT service, and its impact on reducing treatment delays and the need for secondary care intervention.

Evaluating Effectiveness of the Use of an Extremity Stabilization Device for Vascular Access Procedures in Pediatrics.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of SafeBoard, a Food and Drug Administration-approved extremity stabilization device, as an assistive method in performing peripherally inserted central catheter procedures on children 0 to 3 years of age. This is a retrospective chart review ( n = 59) of vascular access procedures where SafeBoard was utilized ( n = 32 ) in comparison to those procedures which utilized a traditional approach to placement ( n = 27). Statistical analysis demonstrated significant effect on length of procedure time, number of personnel needed for procedure, and success of placement when SafeBoard was utilized. Obtaining vascular access in pediatrics can be a challenging endeavor. Most young pediatric patients require procedural sedation and/or assistive personnel as a "holder" for successful vascular access placement to occur. An alternative option for extremity stabilization may provide improved workflow and improved placement success, which in turn may positively affect workflow.

PICC insertion and veins of the arm size variation during dialysis treatment: A prospective observational study.

BACKGROUND: Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters play an increasingly important role in Central Venous Access Devices. However, the use of these devices should be carefully considered in specific situations such as central catheterisation in patients with chronic kidney disease. When evaluating the feasibility of placement for a patient undergoing dialysis, the relationship between changes in circulating volume before and after dialysis treatment, and potential variations in the size of deep veins in the upper limbs, should be considered. MATERIALS: Upper limb veins, specifically the basilic or brachial veins, were identified and measured before and after dialysis treatment. Patient data and weight loss data during dialysis treatment were also collected. Linear regression analysis was performed to assess the correlation between the variables. RESULTS: The average variation in vein size for the entire sample was +0.17 ± 0.43 mm. The mean volume removed was 2.2 ± 0.8 l. In subgroup 1 (fluid volume loss <2000 ml), the population experienced a decrease in the measured vein size after dialysis. In subgroup 2 (fluid volume loss ⩾2000 ml), the population experienced an increase in the measured vein size after dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Upper arm vascular access placement in dialysed patients with fluid removal of less than 2000 ml should be performed after the dialysis session. Conversely, in dialysed patients with fluid removal of more than 2000 ml, where a significant increase in vein size was observed, vascular access placement should be performed before the dialysis session when the veins are smaller. Additionally, it should be noted that in patients with chronic kidney disease, the venous system of the upper limbs should be preserved as much as possible to prevent thrombosis and stenosis in potential arteriovenous fistula creation.

A modified method for measuring the length of peripherally inserted central catheters to reduce the risk of malposition during catheter insertion.

Background: Malposition may occur during peripherally inserted central catheter insertion. Accurately measuring the length of a peripherally inserted central catheter is crucial to preventing malposition, including "long peripherally inserted central catheter placement," in which the tip of a peripherally inserted central catheter is deeper than the target position. The traditional method of measuring peripherally inserted central catheter length involves measuring from the insertion site to the parasternal notch and down to the third or fourth intercostal space, which may result in overestimation because of the thickness of the pectoralis major and anterior chest wall. To avoid this overestimation, the authors developed and tested a modified method for reducing long peripherally inserted central catheter placement. Methods: This study employed a retrospective design. Chest X-rays were used to examine the peripherally inserted central catheter tip positions in 48 patients in the medical intensive care unit who had undergone peripherally inserted central catheter insertion. The traditional and modified measurement methods were used to measure the peripherally inserted central catheter length in 17 and 31 patients, respectively. Fisher's exact test was used to examine between-group differences in the incidence of different types of peripherally inserted central catheter malposition. Results: The peripherally inserted central catheter tip position was near the target position in five patients (29.41%) in the traditional measurement group and 17 patients (54.84%) in the modified measurement group (p = 0.132), whereas long peripherally inserted central catheter placement occurred in six patients (35.29%) in the traditional measurement group and one patient (3.23%) in the modified measurement group (p = 0.006). However, the incidence of other types of peripherally inserted central catheter malposition did not differ significantly between the groups. Conclusions: The results of this study that the proposed modified measurement method may be able to reduce the incidence of long peripherally inserted central catheter placement among medical intensive care unit patients. The method must be further evaluated in prospective studies and studies with larger sample sizes in the future.

An Unusual Vascular Track for Neonatal Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter: A Case Report.

Peripherally inserted central catheterization is a common procedure in neonatal intensive care units. However, in preterm low birthweight newborns, achieving good vascular access can be a challenge. We describe our experience in achieving peripherally inserted central catheterization in a preterm baby through an unusual vascular tract. The line inserted through one of the superficial abdominal veins traversed the epigastric vein, the internal thoracic vein, the superior vena cava, and successfully reached the cavoatrial junction. The line was confirmed radiologically and used safely and effectively for almost 20 days.

Effects of high-quality nursing on complications of peripherally inserted central catheter placement in patients with leukemia.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of high-quality nursing on negative emotions, treatment compliance, and complications of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement in patients with leukemia. METHODS: A total of 87 patients with leukemia treated in our hospital from May 2018 to May 2020 were retrospectively enrolled and their clinical data were analyzed. The patients were assigned to a routine group (n=40) and a high-quality group (n=47) based on different nursing schemes. The self-rating depression scale (SDS) and self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) were used to compare the negative emotional changes in patients of the two groups, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) was used to analyze the degree of pain. The two groups were compared in treatment compliance, quality of life, incidence of complications of PICC placement, and nursing satisfaction. RESULTS: After intervention, the high-quality group got significantly lower SDS and SAS scores than the routine group (both P<0.05). Compared with the routine group, the high-quality group showed higher treatment compliance and nursing satisfaction, experienced higher quality of life (all P<0.05), with also a lower total incidence of complications of PICC placement (P<0.01). CONCLUSION: For patients with leukemia, high-quality nursing can substantially improve their psychological state, treatment compliance and nursing satisfaction, and reduce the incidence of complications of PICC placement.

Pneumothorax as a rare complication of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in neonates: A case report study.

INTRODUCTION AND IMPORTANCE: The Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) placement is associated with complications such as deep vein thrombosis, phlebitis, air embolism, infection, and superior vena cava syndrome. The aim of this study is to report pneumothorax as a rare complication of PICC insertion in a newborn. CASE PRESENTATION: The present case report is of a 32-week- and 4-day-old female fetus who was born at Mahzad Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Urmia, Iran. A PICC was placed for the infant. The infant underwent an antero-posterior chest X-ray, in which the presence of a complete white-out of the right hemithorax indicated pneumothorax and right lung collapse. The review of literature in this field showed that there were no reports of pneumothorax as a complication of PICC insertion in neonates. CLINICAL DISCUSSION: Despite that the PICC placement seems to have many medical advantages in infants, it may cause life-threatening complications such as pneumothorax. In this newborn, the PICC placement was the main cause of pneumothorax and it can be stated that the catheter tip might cause trauma to the chest wall during the placement procedure which resulted in an air trap in the pleural cavity and eventually right lung collapse. CONCLUSION: There are a couple of rare cases being reported to have complications of PICC placement in neonates, but none had associated pneumothorax and PICC placement in neonates. Therefore, innovative methods require to be used for meeting the nutrition and fluid requirements of the infants for a long time.

Previous peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement as a risk factor for PICC-associated bloodstream infections.

BACKGROUND: Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) -associated bloodstream infection (BSI) is a concern. METHODS: A case-control study was conducted to assess risk factors for PICC-associated BSI. RESULTS: A total of 1,215 cases and 31,874 catheter days were analyzed. In total, 54 cases of PICC-associated BSI were detected giving an infection rate of 1.69 per 1,000 catheter-days. The most frequently isolated pathogens were coagulase-negative staphylococci (26%), followed by Enterococcus species (22%), Candida species (17%), and Staphylococcus aureus (11%). Multivariable analysis identified the significant risk factors for PICC-associated BSI as a prior PICC placement (odds ratio [OR], 2.48; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.36-4.53), medical department admission (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.03-3.46), and older age (OR, 1.03; 95% CI, 1.00-1.05). With increasing frequency of previous PICC placement, the rates of PICC-associated BSI increased: 3.5% (31/883) without previous placement, 7.6% (13/171) in once, and 9.9% (9/32) in twice or more. DISCUSSION: The previous PICC placement was an independent risk factor for PICC-associated BSI and the risk proportionally rose with the increasing frequency of prior PICC placement. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with repeatedly inserted PICC should be managed more carefully for prevention and should be monitored for the development of PICC-associated BSI.

Chest Radiograph Measurement Technique Facilitates Accurate Bedside Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Placement in Children.

PURPOSE: To report the chest radiograph measurement technique for placing bedside peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred and thirty-two consecutive pediatric patients, mean age of 56.3 months (range: 0-203 months), underwent PICC placement from January 2015 to May 2017 (28 months) with a total of 232 PICCs placed. Measurements were taken from the cavoatrial junction to clavicle, clavicle to medial margin of mid-humeral head, and medial margin of mid-humeral head to mid-humerus. The difference between total radiographic measured length and actual PICC length was then calculated, and the percent difference (from actual cut length) was recorded. An equivalence test was performed using the two, one-sided test method. RESULTS: Mean ± standard deviation cavoatrial junction to clavicle length was 5.29 ± 2.20 cm (range: 2.1-12.6 cm). Mean clavicle to shoulder length was 8.20 ± 3.59 cm (range: 3.23-19.06 cm). Mean shoulder to mid-humerus length was 7.88 ± 3.87 cm (range: 2.01-16.8 cm). Mean total radiographic measured length was 21.37 ± 9.19 cm (range: 7.42-43.6 cm). Mean actual cut PICC length was 20.64 ± 8.72 cm (range: 8.5-44 cm). The mean difference between predicted, or total radiographic measured length, and actual cut PICC length was 0.73 ± 2.51 (range: - 5.42-8.60 cm). The mean percent difference was 4.07 ± 12.65% (range: - 23.84-47.80%). An equivalence test rejected the null hypothesis of the true percent difference greater/less than ± 6.67% with a p value of 0.002. CONCLUSION: The chest radiograph measurement technique is an accurate method to determine catheter length for PICC placement at bedside in the pediatric population.

A randomised, controlled trial comparing the long-term effects of peripherally inserted central catheter placement in chemotherapy patients using B-mode ultrasound with modified Seldinger technique versus blind puncture.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the effects of peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) placement using B-mode ultrasound with the modified Seldinger technique (BUMST) versus the blind puncture. METHODS: One hundred chemotherapy patients were recruited to participate in a randomised, controlled trial in Guangzhou, China. Fifty were assigned to the experimental group (using BUMST), and 50 were assigned to the control group (blind puncture). Demographic and background data, data related to PICC placement, complications after PICC placement, the patients' degree of comfort (determined via a questionnaire), and patients' costs for PICC maintenance were collected to compare the effects of the two methods. T-tests and chi-square tests were used to analyse the data; p < 0.05 was accepted as statistically significant. RESULTS: Nighty-eight of the 100 PICCs were successfully inserted (50 in the experimental group and 48 in the control group). Compared with the control group, the experimental group had a lower rate of unplanned catheter removal (4.0% vs. 18.7%; p = 0.02), a lower incidence of mechanical phlebitis (0% vs. 22.9%; p < 0.001), a lower incidence of venous thrombosis (0% vs. 8.3%; p = 0.037), and a higher incidence of catheter migration (32% vs. 2.1%; p < 0.001). Compared with the control group, the experimental group experienced significantly less severe contact dermatitis (p = 0.038), had improved comfort at 1 week, 1 month, 2 months, and 3 months after PICC placement (p < 0.001), and had lower costs for PICC maintenance at 2 months, 3 months and when the catheter was removed (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Using B-mode ultrasound with MST for PICC placement reduced complications and patients' costs for PICC maintenance and improved patients' degree of comfort; thus, this procedure should be more widely used. The clinical trial registration number: ChiCTR-TRC-12002749.