PICC Line removal, an important medical procedure in the medical practice 

PICC line or medically known as Peripherally inserted central catheter is a small and flexible tube that is used by inserting it into a patient's peripheral vein. The vein can be either basilic vein, brachial vein and cephalic vein. The intravenous access of this tube will be extended to the larger veins in the heart where it will rests in the cavoatrial junction or known as distal superior vena cava. Both basilic and cephalic 2 weeks late veins are large veins that are located in the upper limb of a human body. Whereas brachial vein is a vein of brachial artery in the arm proper of a person. This long and slender medical tube will normally be inserted in the upper arm of a patient.

Normally the PICC line which was invented in 1975, will be used in a patient body for a long period of time for extended antibiotic therapy, total parenteral nutrition and chemotherapy regimens. PICC line will generally remain in a patient body no longer than thirty days. PICC Line was an important medical discovery as it replace the previously used internal jugular likes or femoral lines which are more prone to infections in patients.

Usually PICC line will be inserted into a patient by physicians, physician assistants,certified radiologist assistants and nurse practitioners. PICC line insertion is a sterile procedure where the sterile condition must be established and maintained throughout the process. Due to medical reasons, normally visitors will be requested to leave the medical room until the procedure is completed. Once the procedure is completed successfully, some forms of skin preparation need to be used to clean the parts of patient skin that was exposed to the PICC line insertion procedure.

PICC line removal can be done by professional medical practitioners who fully understands the complication and emergency medical management. PICC line removal is done when there is a peripheral complication in the patient's body. A medical practitioner must follow procedures when removing a PICC line from a patient's body.

The first step in removing a PICC line is to review the patient's chart and find any contraindications that may happen when the PICC line removal is being carried away. Next, the medical officer should obtain the work on duty physician order and approval for the PICC line removal. This is followed with medical officer in duty explaining procedures to the patient and obtain his or her consent. After that, the dressing is removed and discarded and the insertion site of the PICC line is accessed. It is very important not to use excessive force when the catheter near the insertion site is grasped and removed slowly. A more gentle and steady motion should be practiced by the medical officer when removing a PICC line so that the catheter damage will be prevented by going back to the insertion site. If the patient feel resistance, removal of PICC line must be stopped and warm compresses is applied for twenty or thirty minutes. After removing a PICC line, pressure is applied to the insertion site with 4 X 4 gauze to stop the bleeding. When the bleeding has stopped, it indicates that the PICC line removal procedure was done successfully and the medical officer should document the procedure in the patient's chart for future references and reviews.