Learning About Your Baby’s PICC Line

If your baby needs medicines, fluids, or nutrition for more than a few days, a doctor may suggest a PICC line. PICC stands for peripherally inserted central catheter. A PICC line allows your baby's care team to give treatments safely without frequent needle sticks.

A PICC line is a long, thin, flexible tube called a catheter. It's placed into a vein in your baby's arm, leg, neck, or scalp. The tip of the catheter is gently guided through the vein until it reaches a large vein close to the heart.

Part of the PICC line stays outside your baby's skin. This allows the care team to give medicines, fluids, or nutrition without inserting a new needle each time.

The line is covered with a sterile dressing to help keep it clean and secure.

Your baby may need a PICC line if they need:

• Intravenous (I.V.) medicines for 5 days or longer.
• Antibiotics or other medicines that can irritate small veins.
• Nutrition through a vein (total parenteral nutrition, or TPN).
• Ongoing treatment due to preterm birth.
• Long-term I.V. care because of a health condition.

Not every baby in these cases needs a PICC line. Your baby's doctor will recommend one only if they think it's the safest and best option.

The procedure can take about 1 hour.

During the procedure:

1. Your baby is made as comfortable as possible. They may get medicine to help with pain or to make them feel sleepy.
2. The skin is cleaned to help prevent infection.
3. The doctor inserts the catheter into a vein using a small needle. Ultrasound may be used to help find the vein.
4. The catheter is gently guided into place.
5. X-ray or other imaging may be used to make sure the tip is in the right place.
6. The line is secured with tape and covered with a sterile dressing.

A PICC line can:

• Reduce the need for repeated or frequent needle sticks.
• Provide reliable access to a vein for treatment.
• Allow medicines, fluids, and nutrition to be given more safely.
• Stay in place for weeks or months if needed.
• Help protect small veins from medicines that may irritate them.

As with any procedure, a PICC line has some risks. The risks include:

• Infection.
• Bleeding or bruising where the line is inserted.
• A blocked or damaged catheter.
• The catheter moving out of position.
• A blood clot in the vein or lung.
• Swelling, redness, or pain around the insertion site.
• Rarely, injury to a blood vessel or nearby tissue.

• Your baby's care team will check the PICC line every day. This is to make sure it's working and there are no signs of problems.
• The dressing will be changed often using sterile methods. The line will be flushed with sterile solution. This is to help keep it from being blocked.
• You can usually hold, feed, and comfort your baby while they have a PICC line. The care team will show you how to avoid pulling on the tubing.
• If your baby goes home with a PICC line, you will be taught how to care for it. This includes keeping the dressing clean and dry, flushing the line if needed, and watching for signs of infection or other problems. Be sure you understand all of the instructions before leaving the hospital.

The PICC line will be removed when your baby no longer needs I.V. treatment. The care team will tell you what kind of timeline to expect. Removal is usually quick and painless.