Temporary External Venous Catheter

Key points about temporary catheters

• a peripherally inserted central catheter is also known as a PICC or PIC line
• it is a temporary, short-term central venous catheter sometimes used when your child is in hospital
• it is a thin flexible, silicone tube inserted into a minor (peripheral) vein in the arm or lower leg, which leads to a central vein leading to the heart
• a doctor will remove a PIC line when they replace it with a semi-permanent catheter in the operating theatre

What is a temporary catheter?

A peripherally inserted central catheter (known as a PICC or PIC line) is a temporary, short-term central venous catheter sometimes used when your child is in hospital.

It is a thin flexible, silicone tube inserted into a minor (peripheral) vein in the arm or lower leg, which leads to a central vein leading to the heart.

Your child's oncologist will decide the best time to replace it with a semi-permanent catheter.

You may also be interested in reading the overview page about central venous catheters

Where in my child's body does the temporary catheter go?

Inside the body, the internal catheter runs through a small vein in the chosen limb, usually the arm, and then through a central vein leading to the heart. The external part outside the body is smaller. There is a bung (cap) on the end of the external catheter.

The PIC Line is stitched in place where the external line starts (the exit site). A doctor or nurse will secure it under a dressing. This will help prevent your child from dragging or pulling on it.

What care is needed for my child's temporary catheter?

Dressings

A transparent, waterproof, adhesive dressing covers the exit site and the first few inches of the outside catheter.

Dressing changes happen each week or sooner if:

• it becomes unstuck
• falls off
• when the exit site looks mucky or it has moderate ooze

Flushing the catheter 

A nurse will usually flush the catheter with sterile saline and heparin solution when they change the dressing - this is to keep the catheter clear of blockages.

Changing the bung

There are also weekly changes of the bung on the catheter end. This happens with the dressing changes.

Keeping the catheter clamp closed when not in use

The catheter clamp on the lumen is always closed when the catheter is not in use.

How can I prevent pulling or dragging on my child's temporary catheter?

Securing the catheter with a dressing will help prevent your child from dragging or pulling on it.

How do nurses use PIC lines?

When nurses need to put something into the catheter, they will do it in one of 2 ways:

• by using a plastic tube to attach a bag of fluid to the external line during treatment - this may last several hours or days
• by connecting a syringe containing the medicine to the external line and injecting the medicine into the catheter

When is my child's PIC line removed?

A doctor or nurse will remove a PIC line when they replace it with a semi-permanent catheter in the operating theatre, or if the PIC line becomes infected. They can also remove a PIC line on the ward - your child will not need an anaesthetic.

Read more about childhood cancer