title: The efficacy of upper arm placement of peripherally inserted central catheters using bedside ultrasound and microintroducer technique.
abstract: In one hospital in southern Georgia, the review and analysis of 500 peripherally inserted central catheter procedural attempts by designated, specialty nurses using microintroducer technique and ultrasound guidance revealed an overall catheter placement success rate of 94.6%. This research analysis also provided information on the disposition of those 6-French dual-lumen and triple-lumen, power-injectable peripherally inserted central catheters actually placed in situ on subjects who remained hospitalized or within the hospital's rehabilitation facility. Of the 422 catheters removed, none exhibited signs or symptoms of mechanical phlebitis, and one tested positive per laboratory analysis for organisms confirming infection.
authors.affiliation: South Georgia Medical Center, Valdosta, Georgia, USA. ihnichols@windstream.net
authors.forename: Inez
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Nichols
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Humphrey
mesh_terms: D001132:Arm / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000451:nursing / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D005845:Georgia; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography