PICC line placement
PICC line · PICC · long arm catheter · peripherally inserted central catheter
A long, thin tube is placed through a vein in your arm. Its tip reaches a large vein near the heart. It can stay in for weeks or months.
For long treatment through a vein: chemotherapy, antibiotics, feeding, or frequent blood tests.
⏱ Duration: placement usually takes 30 to 60 minutes; the line stays as long as treatment needs
Be sure to tell your doctor
How to prepare
- Food. Usually you can eat as normal. Check with the clinic.
- Medicines. Do not stop them on your own. The doctor will tell you about blood thinners.
- Clothing. A wide sleeve or a shirt with buttons.
What to bring
- Your referral
- Your ID
- A list of your medicines
How it goes
- You lie down and your arm is moved out to the side
- The vein is found with ultrasound
- The skin is cleaned and numbed with an injection
- The doctor or nurse inserts the tube into the vein and moves it toward the heart
- The tip position is checked with an ECG or X-ray
- The line is secured to the skin and covered with a clear dressing
What you'll feel
- A numbing injection
- Pressure in the arm during insertion, usually not painful
- The arm may ache a little for a couple of days
Afterwards
- The dressing is usually changed once a week and the line is flushed, at the clinic or by a nurse at home
- Keep the dressing dry: cover your arm with plastic wrap in the shower
- Do not lift heavy things with this arm or swim
- Blood pressure and blood tests on this arm only as the clinic advises
Contact a doctor straight away if
- Swelling, pain or redness of the arm, neck or face
- Fever or chills: call your doctor right away
- The line slipped out, broke or is leaking
- Sudden shortness of breath or chest pain: call your local emergency number
Common questions
Can I live a normal life with a PICC line?
Yes, almost. Do not get the dressing wet, swim, or lift heavy things with that arm.
Does removal hurt?
Usually not. The line is simply pulled out, and it takes a minute.