Our team places >350 PICCs per month-711 beds. Occasionally we are asked (more and more lately) to place difficult peripherals when a PICC is not appropriate. I am not comfortable in using lidocaine/marcaine without having an order in place to cover this. Our team is trying to come up with something we can place on the chart, perhaps an order much like we do for PICCs that states that when placing peripherals using US that use of intradermal infiltration of Lidocaine/Marcaine OK to use prn patient comfort. How are others dealing with this issue? Thanks, Cindy Hunchusky/PICC TEAM/Harris Methodist Hospital/Forth Worth.
Lisa Y., Team Leader IV Team UPMC St. Margaret Pittsburgh
When we place peripherals using US we do not use lidocaine. The patients have no problems tolerating the procedure.
Lisa Y., RN, BSN University of Pittsburgh Medical Center/Horizon IV Therapy
PIV with U/S Team is summoned in the same way that PICC Services is by direct consult from the physician. We programmed the order for the lidocaine directly onto the computer order form.
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