Placement peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC): the upper arm approach

To evaluate a recently developed technique to place a medium-duration (weeks to months) central venous access. Within three-year period, 635 patients were referred to interventional radiology suite for placement of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Contrast medium was injected into the peripheral intravenous line and a puncture was made into the opacified vein near the junction of the middle and upper thirds of the upper arm, either the brachial or basilic vein under fluoroscopic guidance. A 5.5-French peel-away sheath was inserted into the vein and a 5-French silicone catheter was introduced with its distal tip to the junction of the right atrium and superior vena cava. Catheter placement was successful in all patients unless there was a central venous obstruction. Catheters were maintained from 2 days to 5 months with a mean of 3 weeks. Complications included infection requiring removal of the PICC in 16 patients (2.5%), acute thrombosis of the subclavian vein in 3 (0.5%). Occluded catheters in 4 patients were easily cleared with urokinase in place. The PICC system is an excellent option for medium-duration central venous access. Patients were able to carry on normal activities with the catheters in place