Our facility is looking at setting a specific time frame for all central lines length of stay. I have not been able to find any info on how long a PICC line should stay in before removing or exchanging it out. I have found some info on IJ/Subclavian lines but any info others may have would be greatly appreciated.
You are looking for something that does not exist. There are no standards, guidelines, recommendations for a specific dwell time for any type of CVAD, including PICCs. CDC states the optimal dwell time is unknown. The standard is to remove a CVAD as soon as it is no longer essential for medical management and when there is an unresolved complication. For any catheter that is open, patent (meaning flushes easily with a good blood return and not signs/symptoms of any problem), it should remain in place until the need has finished. Exchanging is a bad idea on a routine basis. Not sure how you are talking about an exchange but usually this is an exchange over a wire or through an introducer. This procedure should be performed rarely and only if there is catheter damage and no or limited other venous access sites. It is never recommended as a routine part of care. 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
Thank you for your comment. I have tried to tell our facility that there is no specific time frame for removal but they want one in place. We had a run of infections on a specific floor several months back and they feel that removing the line every 2-4 weeks and placing a new one would possibly reduce the issue. I have educated them that this is not the standard and I feel that the infection issue is not length of catheter stay but care and maintenance. Sorry by exchange I meant placing a new one not over the wire exchange.
Sounds like this is a case of your teaching not equating to their learning. You are correct that this is probably associated with care of the catheter. Sounds like your information is falling on deaf ears. 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