IOC PICC line inserted - The Harley Street Clinic

A G U I D E T O H AV I N G A P I C C
L I N E I N S E RT E D
W H AT I S A P I C C L I N E ?
A PICC line (peripherally inserted central catheter)
is a tube that allows your medical team to give you
long-term treatment directly into a vein. This treatment
can be anything from antibiotics and chemotherapy to
food supplements and blood transfusions. Your medical
team can also use a PICC line to withdraw blood samples
for testing. A radiologist will insert the PICC line into
one of the major blood vessels that lead to your heart.
Having a PICC line inserted means you can have
treatment without the need for an injection each time.
PICC
Line
P R E PA R I N G F O R A PI C C L I N E
I N S E RT I O N
The day of your procedure
You can eat a light meal before your procedure. You can
also take any of your regular medicines.
If you are not in hospital already, you will be admitted
as a day patient. When you are on the ward, a nurse
will ask you several questions about your health and any
medicines you take. He or she will also check your blood
pressure and pulse, and ask you to change into a gown.
Your nurse will bring you to the X-ray department
on your bed. In the procedure room, the radiologist will
discuss what will happen during and after the procedure.
He or she will also discuss with you the benefits and risks
of having a PICC line inserted. This is a good opportunity
to ask any questions so you understand exactly what
is going to happen before you sign a consent form
to go ahead.
W H AT H A P P E N S D U R I N G T H E
PROCEDURE?
You will lie on a special X-ray table with your arm out to
the side. The radiologist will clean your skin with antiseptic
fluid and cover it with a sterile drape. Next, the radiologist
will inject a local anaesthetic. This may sting a little at first
but will then completely block pain from the area.
The radiologist will use ultrasound or take X-rays
to decide on the best location to insert a PICC line.
He or she will then insert the PICC line through your skin
above your elbow and thread it to just above your heart.
He or she may take another X-ray to make sure it is in the
correct position. The radiologist will then put a waterproof
dressing over the PICC line to hold it in place.
The procedure usually takes 30 minutes to an hour, but
may take longer.
AFTER THE PROCEDURE
You will return to your ward to recover, which can take up
to an hour. The PICC line will be ready to use immediately.
Going home
If you need to have treatment through the PICC line
for a long period of time, you may be discharged from
hospital with it still in place. You will need to keep the
dressing clean and dry, and always wash your hands
with soap and water before you touch the PICC line.
You may need to come into hospital every week to have
your dressing changed and to flush the line. Alternatively,
a district nurse may visit you to do this in your home.
Contact your ward immediately if:
•
•
•
•
•
your skin around the line becomes red or
inflamed, or there is any swelling or leakage
you have any pain
you have fever and chills
you feel the line has moved
your district nurse has difficulty flushing the line
ARE THERE ANY RISKS?
PICC line insertion is commonly performed and
generally safe. However, as with every procedure,
there are some risks associated with having a PICC
line inserted. It is common to get a small bruise around
where the radiologist inserts the PICC line. Occasionally
this bruise can be large and it might get infected. You may
need to take antibiotics to treat this. There is also a risk
that the line can become infected but you can reduce this
risk with good personal hygiene and proper care of your
PICC line. Very rarely, the line can damage your
vein, which you may need surgery to repair.
There is also a small possibility that the line can fall
out, or it may get blocked. If this happens, you will
need to have another procedure to replace the line.
H OW TO F I N D U S
By Car
The nearest long stay National Car Park (NCP) is in
Cavendish Square. Short stay meter parking is also
available in surrounding streets as well as on
Harley Street.
By Train
The nearest tube stations are Regent’s Park (Bakerloo
line), Baker Street (Bakerloo, Circle, Hammersmith and
City, Jubilee and Metropolitan lines) and Bond Street
(Central and Jubilee lines).
By Bus
Bus routes 18, 27, 30, 205 and 453 all stop near the top
of Harley Street.
BAKER
STREET
THE HARLEY
STREET CLINIC
THE HARLEY
STREET CLINIC
NE H
IGH S
T
NO TT IN
GH
PL AC E AM
LEBO
STREET
STREET
INTERVENTIONAL
ONCOLOGY
CENTRE
PLA
CE
WELBECK ST
HARLEY ST
MARY
CAVENDISH
MORTIMER ST
CAVENDISH PL
BOND
STREET
STREET
ST
OXFORD STRE
ET
REGENT STREET
JAMES
BAKER ST
WIGMORE STREET
WIMPOLE ST
STREET
BLANDFORD ST
DEVONSHIRE ST
WEYMOUTH
NEW
GREAT
PORTLAND
STREET
REGENTS
PARK
K CRES
G R E AT P O R T L A N D
ST
R
PORTLAND
GT ON
MARYLEBONE RD
PA
C H I LT E R N
BAKER STREET
PA DD IN
ROAD
HARLEY ST
MARYLEBONE
DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE
OXFORD ST
OXFORD
CIRCUS
Any questions, email us at: [email protected]
Interventional Oncology Centre
80 Harley Street
London W1G 8PZ
T +44 (0)20 7034 8212
M +44 (0)7872 465 037
F +44 (0)20 7034 8289
www.Interventionaloncologycentre.com