Our radiologist in IR are placing tunneled PICCS entering from the IJ and tunneling to the subclavian and into the CA junction. My question is does nursing remove these catheters or does the pt need to go back to IR for removal? If anyone has a policy in place and would share with us I would appreciate it.
Thank You!
Amy
Does the catheter in use have a subcutaneous cuff where the subq tissue will grow into it? If so, this will usually require a small amount of surgical dissection. So you will need to know exactly the brand and features of the catheter in use to determine if this is only a SC tunnel or an SC tunnel and cuff. 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
We are in the same boat - just started seeing these tunneled cuffed and non-cuffed IJ PICCs. Our policy is that if the line is cuffed, it must be removed by Interventional Radiology as they may need some additional manipulation to remove, as Lynn said. If they are non-cuffed, we have our PICC nurses remove them. We have 4 critical access hospitals within our system as well, and they have designated who will remove these PICCs if they don't have PICC nurses. Give me your email and I can send you our procedure/policy if you would like.
Wendy Erickson RN
Eau Claire WI