Can I get your comments on why you would not place a picc in a mastectomy patient or why it is okay to? I did a search on this website and didn't find anything. It's my understanding we don't place picc's in this population due to the lymph nodes being removed and sets the patient up for complications with cellulitis, infection, etc... Does INS have a standard for this? Any comments are appreciated. Thank you.
The national standard from INS and ONS is that the extremity on the side of a mastectomy should never be used for venipuncture of any kind due to the increased risk of lymphedema. This is a life-long risk. The risk is not as great when the lymph nodes have not been removed, however venipuncture in that arm should always be avoided. In the case of bilateral mastectomy, you must make a careful assessment for each patient about what type of vascular access device would create the least risk for that patient. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
www.hadawayassociates.com
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861
Jim