What is a PICC line?
Why does my baby need a PICC line?
How will my baby’s PICC line be put in place?
Will this procedure hurt my baby?
Who will put in my baby’s PICC line?
When will my baby get a PICC line?
What are the advantages of a PICC line?
Can my baby have problems from a PICC line?
1
What is a PICC line?
A PICC line is a "Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter".
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2
Why does my baby need a PICC line?
Babies in the NICU have very special needs for fluids, vitamins, minerals, and medications. A baby will stay on IV fluids until he/she is drinking enough milk. Sometimes babies will need IV fluids or medications for long periods of time, and because a babies veins are very delicate, it is often very hard to maintain these IV’s. When these IV’s become difficult to maintain, or when your baby is very small, the doctors will tell you that your baby needs a PICC line.
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3
How will my baby’s PICC line be put in place?
A PICC line catheter is placed into a vein near the skin and advanced into the bigger and deeper veins near the baby’s heart. This is done by placing a small needle into the veins in either your baby’s arm, leg, or neck; and then slipping a small catheter through this needle. The catheter is advanced through this small needle into a small vein, and then further into the larger veins near the babies heart. Once the catheter is in place, the needle is removed and the only thing left in your baby is a very soft catheter which will deliver the nutrition and medications your baby needs. An X-ray is always taken to make sure the catheter is in the right place.
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4
Will this procedure hurt my baby?
Most babies tolerate this procedure very well with little or no discomfort. Sometimes we will give your baby some medication to keep him/her calm and comfortable during the procedure. Your baby should experience no more pain than a small pinch as he/she would feel when having a regular IV started.
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5
Who will put in my baby’s PICC line?
A PICC line may be placed in your baby by a doctor, a nurse practitioner, a physician’s assistant, or a specially trained nurse.
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6
When will my baby get a PICC line?
Once your baby is a few days old, a doctor will talk to you about the need for placing a PICC line. The doctor will explain the procedure to you and answer any questions you may have. After explaining the procedure to you, the doctor will ask you to sign a consent form. Signing the consent form means that you understand why your baby needs the PICC line and what some of the problems can be with this IV. You should ask questions any time that you do not understand why your baby needs the PICC line or what problems can happen with the PICC line.
Once any of these above types of IV’s are inserted, we will infuse fluids directly into the blood stream. At birth, most babies require only glucose (sugar) and water, to nourish them. As your baby gets a little older, your baby requires more nutrients. Usually by day three of life, we will stop the glucose and water and begin giving an IV fluid called Hyperal. This Hyperal is yellow in color and contains many vitamins and nutrients that your growing baby needs. With the Hyperal, we may also administer a second type of IV fluid called Intralipids (lipids). These lipids are white in color and are actually a type of liquid fat that can be given via the IV. Lipids will help your baby to gain weight.
Once feedings have been started, your baby will be slowly "weaned" off his IV. Keep in mind, that sometimes even after your baby is eating enough to grow and gain weight that an IV may still be needed to administer medication. If the baby no longer requires actual IV fluids, a small cap or "plug" will be placed on the IV and the fluids will be stopped.
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7
What are the advantages of a PICC line?
1- Delivering highly concentrated nutrition or medications to your baby that would be too irritating to your baby’s smaller veins. This highly concentrated nutrition will give your baby the extra calories he/she needs to gain weight faster.
2- PICC lines are less likely to infiltrate (become dislodged out of the vein) than regular IV’s, and can be left in place for weeks or even months at a time. This can be very helpful if your baby will need intravenous nutrition or medications for a long period of time.
3- PICC lines drastically reduce the number of times your baby needs to be stuck for an IV, and will also decrease his/her risk of infection from many IV sticks.
4- PICC lines are placed into babies at the bedside and do not require the baby to go to the operating room.
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8
Can my baby have problems from a PICC line?
1- Although it is rare, the PICC line may infiltrate (become dislodged out of the vein). If this happens, the IV fluid will leak into the babies tissues and may cause breathing problems.
2- The catheter may wind up in the baby’s heart, this is why an X-ray is always taken after a PICC line is placed. If the catheter winds up in the heart, the catheter is pulled back alittle and another X-ray is taken to make sure the catheter is now in the right place.
3- Infection. Whenever there is a catheter in the body, there is always a risk for infection. Because a PICC catheter is centrally located, the infection may be serious.
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