title: Confirming PICC tip position during insertion with real-time information.
abstract: Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) play a fundamental role in patient care in a variety of clinical and healthcare settings. Tip location is important for both safety and efficacy. New technologies may offer the possibility of safer, more efficient and more effective insertion. A prospective evaluation was carried out of a system providing real-time information on the tip’s location, direction, and depth during insertion in a total of 488 patients at a single centre (65 patients in the initial study, plus follow-on case series reports in 423 patients). No tip malpositions were reported and, as a result, the institution has been able to waive the requirement for confirmatory chest X-ray after PICC insertion, thus minimising the delay before the PICC can be used and increasing staff and patient confidence in the procedure.
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019300:Medical Errors / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008875:Middle Aged; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult