Forum topic

Has anyone done studies @ their institutions on the relationship between symptomatic DVTs and PICC ?

Our QI/PI data manager helped us create a excel database. We track time from order to placement. Number of PICCs placed by our team verses IR. Success rate of placements. We track how many attempts placement took, location of placement, vein size, size of cathter placed, and amount of catheter left external. We also track how long our PICCs remain in place as well as why they are removed. While this data is not perfect we use it to review any PICC that was taken out for complications and determine if we can improve the care of these lines.

I have read about a national database that is being develpoed but it is not available in my area yet.

I completed a study on PICCs and thrombosis in 2010. It was just a pilot study with 203 patients. and 13 patients with thrombosis. I am hoping to do a multisite study in the near future because 203 patient was not enough to come to any conclusions. The statistically significant findings from the study were hypertension and arm circumference > 3 cm

Bonnie Clemence, MSN, RN, CRNI

Pinnacle Health System

Harrisburg, PA