For all CVAD removal, the patient should be positioned so that the catheter exit site is at or below the level of the heart. You need to assess where the actual PICC puncture site is in relation to the heart. As a general rule, I would prefer to have the patient lying down rather than sitting up. Even though an insertion site at or near the antecubital fossa should be below the heart, you can have some that are higher on the arm making the site above the heart. Error on the side of patient safety when it comes to prevention of air embolism. Lynn
For all CVAD removal, the patient should be positioned so that the catheter exit site is at or below the level of the heart. You need to assess where the actual PICC puncture site is in relation to the heart. As a general rule, I would prefer to have the patient lying down rather than sitting up. Even though an insertion site at or near the antecubital fossa should be below the heart, you can have some that are higher on the arm making the site above the heart. Error on the side of patient safety when it comes to prevention of air embolism. 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