2 questions/your opinion:
Your opinion regarding PICC and measuring bloodpressure (NBT) in the PICC arm. Is it OK? (my opinion=yes)
Is it OK to place a PIV in the PICC arm and administer drugs in the PIV? (my opinion = NO, Well NOT the same vessel as the PICC)
I'm doing e presentation on friday and need to answer these questions!!!
If the opposite arm is NOT available - we allow the forearm on the side of the PICC to be used for BP.
Our strong preference is to NOT use same arm for PIVs.
Good luck!
Keely Ralston RN-BC, VA-BC, CPUI, RCIS
Ok Keely. Thanx a bunch
Nurse specialist ICU/ANE/PICC.
Dep. of Neurosurgery
Umea University Hospital/SWEDEN
BP only in the forearm of the arm used for PICC, if no other site is possible.
A PIV below a PICC on the same extremity is never a good idea, although there could be some times when it may be required. If it is absoltuely necessary, then you must pya extremely close attention to skin antisepsis before the PIV is inserted. Use of that PIV requires the same special attention to use of disinfection caps for all needleless connectors and scrubbing between each injection. Also do not allow the primary continuous IV set on the PIV to be disconnected. All of these interventions will decrease the risk of BSI from the PIV. We do not have good studies on the rates of infection with PIV. But we all know that the techniques for PIV insertion is far from ideal. This would introduce organisms that could also colonize the PICC, leading to BSI. Infection risk would be my primary reason to avoid a PIV in the same arm as a PICC, but there are other reasons such as thrombosis, etc. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861