posted
I have [reluctantly] agreed to another 3 months of rocephin. My LLMD says to keep going if symptoms continue to improve, which they do. So I just got the next 3 months shipment.
But darn if last night the PICC line started leaking. I have to get it replaced.
This is the 3rd or 4th one. The first two slowly pulled out. This one stayed the longest, three months, and now is leaking.
Am I doing something wrong? Or is this just the nature of PICC lines? Is there something I can insist the dr's do when they insert this new one?
Last time they sewed it into my skin in four places. That helped it not pull out.
They are just tiny, thin little plastic tubes. I guess I am not surprised they deteriorate so easily.
But any suggestions would be welcome...
-------------------- Jeff Posts: 533 | From CA | Registered: Mar 2006
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stymielymie
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 10044
posted
were these put in by a radiologistS they should be put in a deep vein not a surface vein line a normal iv tube. the picc should be xrayed and in the right place in and near the heart.
surface picc lines will not hold up and must be placed above the elbow.
suturing is a must it can be resutured if they fall out i used superglue for several months. they will say this is not ok, but superglue was invented in ww2 for on the front suturing of open wounds, and is undered in many er's now.
it must be in an area of the arm that it will not kink. you must treat it like it was gold, it is your lifeline and any infection has the potential to kill you.
docdave
Posts: 1820 | From Boone and Southport, NC | Registered: Sep 2006
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david1097
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3662
posted
Hi, I have had quite a few pic lines put in , 7 to date (multiple relapse combined with line trouble). I did get one line to last over 1 year, the others either had a defect in when they where put in or got plugged due t the type of drug being used.
Here is the trick.
The line has to be secured with either sutures (as dave has said) OR this new adhesive thing called a statlock has to be used. Either of these will keep the line from coming out as you describe. Without these devices, it WILL slowly come out, although it is in theory possible to push it back in, I would not do it due to risk of contamination.
Now the trick to keeping the line from leaking. The line will exit the entry site with the loose end towards your hand. Loop this loose piece around like a U so that the loose end now faces up towards you shoulder. Get some medipore tape and tape it this way, leaving the cap exposed so you can hook up to it.
If you do this loop trick, the line never gets flexed and is held securely even it you yank on the IV set. This arrangement also works if you have a pump and need to sleep with it. In such a case take the connected IV set line and make a U so that it now faces down. Tape the whole thing like that and you are good to go. Even if you pull on it really hard, the second loop takes all the force and never even pulls on the PICC line.
You may have to try different tapes, I find the best is the medipore, which is some type of perforated fabric. I find I get allergic reactions to the other types but each person is different.
On the continuation of the IV. I was one of the IDSA 4 week wonder cures. I replased a few months later but the ID did not want to see me after I was "cured" me with 4 weeks of IV. Replase is much more difficult to recover from, you do not want this to happen if you can avoid it. From first hand experience, I would not have any hesitation in telling someone to stay on the treatment until all the symptoms are gone. Despite what the IDSA "experts" say the damn thing does come back, again and agian and again unless you really get rid of it entirely. Of course they don't want to hear of this balsphemous reality since they believe (or at least are told to say)a few weeks of ABX will cure anything that is bacterially based (except... oh...at least 1/2 dozen well known infections, which "don't occur here").
Posts: 1184 | From north america | Registered: Feb 2003
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CaliforniaLyme
Frequent Contributor (5K+ posts)
Member # 7136
posted
It's the nature of it, NOT YOU*)!*)!!
I had 2 picc lines and then had to have a HAND LINE (replaced every 2 days- YUCK!) for a whole month before I got a Groshong!
-------------------- There is no wealth but life. -John Ruskin
All truth goes through 3 stages: first it is ridiculed: then it is violently opposed: finally it is accepted as self evident. - Schopenhauer Posts: 5639 | From Aptos CA USA | Registered: Apr 2005
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I have had my PICC line in for approx. 4 months now. The hospital I work at and had my line inserted at uses Stat Locks to hold the PICC in place. I have not had any problems with my line, but I am guessing these problems you are having are not due to anything you have done.
Is your line flushing ok? What about a blood return, are you getting any? In February I was having problems with my line not flushing well and not having a blood return so I went into the infusion center and had a Cath-Flow treatment. This is a simple process where they flush an enzyme-type solution in your line to help disolve any clots that may have formed in the tip. Could your's be leaking because it is clogged at all? I would rather see you find out what is causing this than to have another line placed. Also, ask if they have Stat Locks instead of sutures. They just stick to your skin but need to be changed weekly or it will iritate your skin (I had this happen, not fun).
Good luck!!!
Posts: 73 | From just outside of Lansing, MI | Registered: Jun 2006
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posted
My son has had his PICC line for over 8 months (and, unfortunately no end in sight to IV Rocephin since neuropsych symptoms have not improved). We use a statlock since sutures had gotten infected a few months ago. The statlock works great! How long is too long for a PICC?
Angie
Posts: 3 | From CT | Registered: Nov 2006
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timaca
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 6911
posted
My picc line was in for 6 1/2 months (stat lock) and I did not have any problems with the line.
HOWEVER, when I changed LLMDs, my new LLMD required a monthly blood culture taken from the picc line to catch infections in the line.
The first blood culture grew a fungal infection. So, the picc line was pulled. Everyone was a bit concerned because no one knew how long the infection had been there since this was the first blood culture run on the blood from the line.
Make sure you are doing blood cultures, TAKEN FROM THE PICC LINE on a monthly basis.
That LLMD saved ME from getting a fungal infection.
Timaca
Posts: 2872 | From above 7,000 ft in a pine forest | Registered: Feb 2005
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So, the picc line was pulled. Everyone was a bit concerned because no one knew how long the infection had been there since this was the first blood culture run on the blood from the line.
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