Hello!
I work at an out patient infusion center. There is a VAT team here that places PICC lines for the patients. I am reading one insertion note in preparation for a dressing change and infusion. The nurse who placed the line notes that she originally trimmed the line to where about 8-9cm would be external. She then removed the line, trimmed it further, and reinserted the same line.
I thought this practice was not appropriate even though the line is being placed under sterile conditions. Is this a correct practice? We always remove the line and insert a new one. When I started placing lines, placing a new line was appropriate to maintain sterility of the catheter itself. Has something changed?
Thanks,
Corrie Morea, RN, MSN, CRNI, VA-BC, LNC, CPUI
As long as the original sterile field is not broken or compromised and the introducer sheath is still in place, this is ok to do. It is done when the line is too long to avoid excessive external length which can be just as much risk as reinsertion of the trimmed catheter.
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