Does anyone have a policy and procedure for a tunneled PICC? While this is currently being done in Italy, England and Spain, I don't think it is often performed by vascular access teams in the USA, if at all. I am in the process of developing education with indications, procedure and instructions for tunneled PICCs and would welcome other input, especially if you already have written policy and procedure. You can contact me directly if you like [email protected] Thanks for your comments and input into this expanding area of interest.
Warm regards,
Nancy
Nancy Moureau, BSN, CRNI, CPUI, VA-BC, PICC Excellence, Inc [email protected] 888-714-1951
What would the benefit actually be? Short SC tunnels are not associated with a reduction in CRBSI. Would this be for securement purposes? 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
We are seeing alot being put in. Reason is that it has a Power lumen, and the traditional lines do not have the "Power" feature.
A tunneled IJ for the renal pt going home and in need of long term iv therapy. I am very interested in this but have no written policy or procedure info. Please keep me informed on your progress.
Darla Tarvin RN VA-BC
Darla Tarvin RN VA-BC
Mercy Clermont Hospital
Are you talking about tunnelling a cuffed catheter in the arm? I have heard of it but have not seen it in practice. Can you link any articles you have run across.
Darilyn
The benefits of a tunneled PICC include ability to access near the axilla and tunnel the exit site lower, away from perspiration; also used for immuno compromised patients as an added protection from infection.
Nancy L. Moureau, PhD, RN, CRNI, CPUI, VA-BC
PICC Excellence, Inc.
[email protected]
www.piccexcellence.com
Hi Nancy,
This is very interesting. Would you post an article with more description. The tunneling aspect would have to be accepted officially from our state board, however. Sometimes people say PICC when they actually mean centrally inserted centeral line not peripherally inserted central line. See link below.
http://radiologyinc.com/procedure.asp?id=26
The last time I looked at the literature on tunneling, there was not enough data to support the idea of it being an infection prevention method. Has this changed? Can you give use those references? Thanks, 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
Our Interventional Radiologists have just begun placing tunneled (cuffed and non-cuffed) internal jugular PICCs, using a BARD kit made for these. These are used primarily for renal failure patients, are placed just above the clavicle (not the neck) and tunneled to the IJ. We care for it just like any other PICC except they are removed by the PICC nurses only and if they meet any resistance due to the cuff, then the patient is seen in IR and they remove it there.
Wendy Erickson RN
Eau Claire WI
There will be several variations on this subject presented at the upcoming AVA scientific meeting [September 19-23]
Breakout, Abstract and Poster presentation formats
Subjects include bedside insertion by VA Nurses of Tunneled PICCs and implantation of a "PICC PORT" [What some of us call a PAS -PORT]
See you in NASHVILLE
Robbin George RN VA-BC