At a glance
- Anaesthetic
- Local anaesthetic, sometimes with mild sedation
- Procedure time
- About 30–45 minutes
- Hospital stay
- Day stay, or walk-in walk-out
- Where
- St George’s Hospital, Strowan
Typical for most people. Your consultant will tell you what to expect in your case.
On this page
Who it may help
The decision to place a PICC or CICC is made with your treating doctor. People who may benefit include those needing:
- long-term antibiotics
- frequent blood tests, when their veins are difficult to access
- frequent transfusions
- chemotherapy
What is a PICC?
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a thin, flexible tube placed by an interventional radiologist into a vein in your arm, left or right depending on your veins. It is made of a sterile, durable material suitable for long-term use.
A PICC can have one or two (sometimes three) access points, called hubs, which can be used both to give medication and to take blood. PICCs are often used for people whose treatment needs long-term access to a vein. The line is visible where it leaves the skin, and it needs regular care to keep it clean and working.
What is a CICC?
A centrally inserted central catheter (CICC) is like a PICC but is placed into a vein in your neck, left or right depending on your veins. It is made of the same material and is also suitable for long-term use, with one or two (sometimes three) hubs for giving medication and taking blood.
The difference is that a CICC is tunnelled under the skin to leave the body below your collarbone, and it is usually slightly larger than a PICC. The line is visible where it leaves the skin below your collarbone, and it needs regular care to keep it clean and working.
How the procedure is performed
- The procedure is performed by a consultant interventional radiologist.
- It is done under local anaesthetic, sometimes with mild sedation.
- The skin is cleaned and covered with sterile drapes around your upper arm (PICC), or below your collarbone and on your neck (CICC).
- The vein that will hold the tube is accessed, on the right or left.
- A small tube is guided under your skin from the exit site into the vein. Most of the tube sits under the skin and is not visible.
- Using live X-ray guidance, the tip of the tube is placed just above the heart.
- The line is checked to make sure it works properly.
- The line is secured to the skin so it does not move.
- The procedure usually takes about 30–45 minutes and is done as a day-stay or walk-in, walk-out procedure.
Benefits
- Long-term access to your veins
- Most people return to normal activity the next day or within a few days
After the procedure
- Most people go home the same day.
- Light activities can resume within a day to a few days.
- You can shower and bathe as long as the dressing and line stay dry. Swimming is not recommended with a PICC or CICC.
Risks and side effects
Complications are uncommon but may include:
- mild bruising or tenderness around the insertion site
- infection of the line, which means it has to be removed and replaced, with extra antibiotics
- a blood clot in the line or the vein, which often means the line has to be removed and replaced
- an irregular heartbeat if the tip of the tube sits too close to the heart
More in Venous access
How to refer
Send referrals by HealthLink (EDI SIIRATOZ) or email admin@southislandir.co.nz. Please include:
- Relevant clinical history and treatments already tried, such as physiotherapy, injections or medication
- Recent imaging and reports, or where to access them
- Current medications, especially anticoagulants, and allergies, including to contrast
- Recent eGFR or creatinine where contrast will be used