Hello,
Can anyone point me to literature that outlines where/how to measure the circumference of an upper extremity with a PICC line in place? I have been told that you measure up 10cm from the antecubital space, but I can't find any literature to support this.
Thanks for your help!
Trish Hayes, BSN, RN
RN Educator
You probably can't find it because such a measurement is not in the literature. Routine, repeated measurement of mid-arm circumference was removed from the Infusion Nursing Standards of Practice and is no longer required because there was a lack of evidence supporting this practice. Here is the definition from the Standards
Mid-Arm Circumference. Measurement of the upper arm at a predetermined distance above the insertion of a peripherally inserted central catheter or midline catheter.
A baseline measurement is a good idea but it does not specify where this measurement should be taken. The length of each patient's arm will vary so a specific measurement as you have suggested would not work for everyone. If there is a problem that develops, you can compare the measurement to what was measured before insertion. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861