Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

PICC is a form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period of time (e.g., for long chemotherapy regimens , extended antibiotic therapy, or total parenteral nutrition) or for administration of substances that should not be done peripherally (e.g., antihypotensive agents a.k.a. pressors. It is a catheter that enters the body through the skin (percutaneously) at a peripheral site, extends to the superior vena cava (a central venous trunk), and stays in place (dwells within the veins) for days or weeks. PICC lines are considered when a person is expected to need more than two weeks of intravenous therapy.Ranging from seven days up to several months as long as the line remains viable. They are utilized in both the hospital and community settings. They are commonly used in people receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN), chemotherapy, or long term medications such as antibiotics. The use of a PICC line in adults may also be used to obtain a blood sample.