Caring for Your PICC Line

What is a PICC Line?
Why do you have a PICC line?
How do you care for your PICC line?
How do you clean the PICC line site and change the dressing?
How do you flush the PICC line?
What can you do if the PICC line doesn’t flush?
How do you change the injection cap?
What are signs to watch for?
What type of PICC line do you have?

What is a PICC Line?

PICC stands for “Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter”.  A PICC line is a catheter that is inserted into a vein in your upper arm. The catheter is then advanced so the top opening is just above the heart.

Why do you have a PICC line?

A PICC line is placed for you to receive IV medicine for a period of time. The PICC line will prevent you from having a needle inserted in a vein each time you need medicine. Medicine is less irritating when it is placed in a large vein.

How do you care for your PICC line?

The nurses at National Jewish Health will review PICC line care with you.  In addition, a health care provider will help care for your PICC line when you are at home. This may be in an outpatient clinic or home care depending on insurance. You will receive a patient booklet about how to care for your PICC line. This booklet will review important information that will help you care for your PICC line. Keep it to refer back to.

Care for the first week after PICC line insertion

• Apply a warm pack to the PICC line area 3-5 times a day for discomfort.

• For soreness, take ibuprofen (Advil®, Motrin®) 400 mg. three times a day with meals or as directed by your doctor. If you are allergic to ibuprofen your doctor may recommend Tylenol.

General Care of the PICC Line

• Keep the dressing dry and intact. Shower instead of taking a bath.  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. You may be allowed to have blood drawn from the Poly PICC (or Poly Per Q Cath®) line.  Ask you doctor.

• When your blood pressure is taken, use the arm without the PICC line.

• Avoid heavy lifting with a PICC line. This means avoid lifting more than 30 pounds

How do you clean the PICC line site and change the dressing?

Your patient booklet describes how to clean the PICC line site and change the dressing. You will be instructed on how to change the dressing. You may go to an outpatient clinic or have a home health care nurse come to your home to change the dressing. 

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How do you flush the PICC line?

Your patient booklet describes how to flush your PICC line with saline. This will help clean the line after medication is given via the PICC line. If your PICC line is not used often the PICC line will need to be flushed regularly.

• Groshong PICC line – If you have a Groshong PICC line the line will need to be flushed with 10 cc of saline. This is done before and after each use or weekly when not in use.

• Poly PICC line – If you have a Poly PICC line the line will need to be flushed with 10 cc of saline before each use It will also need to be flushed with 10 cc of saline followed by 3 cc of heparin after each use.

Flushing the PICC line will help keep the line open and prevent clots. You will be instructed on how to flush the PICC line. You may go to an outpatient clinic or have a home health care nurse come to your home to flush the PICC line. 

What can you do if the PICC line doesn’t flush?

If you are not able to flush the PICC line call you health care provider or home health nurse. Do not push the syringe against a resistance.

How do you change the injection cap?

Your patient booklet describes how to change the injection cap. The injection cap is used to access the PICC line. This will need to be changed depending on how often your PICC line is used. You will be instructed on how to change the injection cap. You may go to an outpatient clinic or have a home health care nurse come to your home to change the injection cap.

What are signs to watch for?

Watch for these signs:

• Swelling, redness, red streaking, hot or hard area in PICC line arm
• Pain in PICC line arm
• Fever or chills
• Swelling of the hand, arm and/ or neck on the same side as the PICC line.
• Leaking of fluid when you flush the catheter

Call you health care provider or PICC line care provider right away if you notice these signs or if you are worried or concerned.

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What type of PICC line do you have?

There are three types of PICC lines used at National Jewish Health.  Here is information about your PICC line.  Keep this handy to show your health care providers.

Important Information about your PICC line

Catheter Brand Name:  ____Groshong®   _____Poly PICC®

Lot Number:______       

____Single Lumen

Site used:  ____Basilic  ____Brachial  ____Other

Right / Left Arm

Length of catheter:______  Total length advanced: ______

Length from exit to hub: ______

Length from exit site to tip: ______

Your PICC Line was placed at National Jewish Health.

Insertion date:____________Signature:_____________________________________      

If you have problems or questions while in Denver or at home, notify:

• Adult Procedure Unit, 303-398-1958
• Adult Care Unit, 303-398-1478
• Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, 303-398-1178 or 303-398-1263
• Your health care provider or PICC line care provider.

Note: This information is provided to you as an educational service of LUNG LINE® (1-800-222-LUNG).  It is not meant to be a substitute for consulting with your own physician.

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This information has been reviewed and approved by Leslie Schamaun, RRT (December 2006).