Hello,
Can anyone point me to literature that outlines where/how to measure the circumference of an upper extremity with a PICC line in place? I have been told that you measure up 10cm from the antecubital space, but I can't find any literature to support this.
Thanks for your help!
Trish Hayes, BSN, RN
RN Educator
You probably can't find it because such a measurement is not in the literature. Routine, repeated measurement of mid-arm circumference was removed from the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice and is no longer required because there was a lack of evidence supporting this practice. Here is the definition from the Standards
Mid-Arm Circumference. Measurement of the upper arm at a predetermined distance above the insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter or midline catheter.
A baseline measurement is a good idea but it does not specify where this measurement should be taken. The length of each patient's arm will vary so a specific measurement as you have suggested would not work for everyone. If there is a problem that develops, you can compare the measurement to what was measured before insertion. 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