i have had my groshan picc line in since 12/12/06, a year and 4 months now. never had any problems with it, but i know that they are not usually in this long and i worry about it deteriorating in my body.
has anyone had a picc line in for over a year?
Posted by njgirl14 (Member # 14174) on :
my nurse told me she has had many patients that had their PICCS over a year.
Posted by WildCondor (Member # 434) on :
PICC lines are meant to be temporary. The longer you have it in there, the greater your risk of getting a line infection and sepsis. I wouldn't personally keep it in that long, too dangerous. I got sepsis twice from line infections and they are the scariest thing you can imagine, death comes ultra fast if you do not get immediate emergency medical care. Be careful with you line. If you still require IV antibiotics, I would get a new PICC line in the other arm, or go with a catheter. It's up to you and your LLMD, just be careful please.
Posted by notkrazybrian (Member # 10621) on :
picc lines can stay in for up to year and a half maximum. brian (as long as it looking good and takin care I wouldnt worry about unless your LLMD is worrying about it or the nurse) brian. Ive had one in since July 07.
Posted by seibertneurolyme (Member # 6416) on :
I think the longest hubby has had the same line in was for 15 months and the shortest was a week or two. He has had a line in continuously for about 5 1/2 years now. The docs do rotate it between his arms, but there have been several times when they put it back in the same site in the same arm if it had only been a few months.
In general up to a year is considered the norm.
We have always changed the dressing ourselves and done our own IV's. Other than pulling the line out overnight once and it plugging up several times due to hypercoagulation I guess we have been lucky to not have any major problems.
Bea Seibert
Posted by savebabe (Member # 9847) on :
My nurse told me that 6 months should be the limit and then get a new line.
I followed that advice and did not have one problem.
Posted by amkdiaries (Member # 7035) on :
My PICC line was in 2 1/2 years with no problem. It finally developed a tear and had to be pulled.
I called the company that manufactures them several times while I had the line and was told that they had patients that had them in for four years but that was rare. I too was afraid of it deteriorating inside the body which I am sure would be a nightmare.
Posted by slh (Member # 11336) on :
follow up on my line, decided to keep it in cuz i am starting meyers vitamin cocktails and can do them out home with my picc line. in for 1 1/2 years, i have had no problems with it and it looks great. my llmd is not concerned at all.
i have a months supply of rocephin, 2 gr bottles, that i no longer am using. if any of you fellow iv users need it or know anyone who does, or maybe your nurses know of someone, please let me know asap. it expires in july so would like to get it to someone soon. 31-2gr bottles ceftriaxone, generic for rochephin. thank.