Inserted a PICC 3 weeks ago. NO insertion related complications. Patient went back to her home care facility.
Back home, someone in the nursing staff removed the PICC, with som problem (venous stasis).
They removed the PICC 15 days after insertion. Then she came back to to our facility a couple of days ago (day 20) and developed a symtomatic thrombosis.
Question: Is it common to develop a thrombosis some days after the PICC is pulled out?
I doubt this thrombosis developed completely after the PICC was removed. I think it was present but clinically silent before removal. Although if there was evidence of venous stasis such as edema in the extremity, chest, neck, then that is a sign of thrombosis. What was the size of the PICC in relation to the vein diameter? Where was the tip located? Those are two common factors that can increase or decrease the risk of vein thrombosis with PICCs. Then there can be numerous patient factors that you can't control. Since we don't have more patient information (diagnosis, activity level, hydration status, hypercoaguable factors, etc) it is hard to determine what influenced the development of the thrombosis, but I do not believe it began completely after the PICC was removed. 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