Why You Should Opt for PICC Line Placement During Chemotherapy Treatment

Chemotherapy might be scary, especially during the first few sessions. You could ease the tension by choosing your preferred central venous catheter (CVC) before treatment. The CVC chosen would depend on factors such as the time you would receive treatment, continuous infusion therapy, and whether the treatment is done at home or in a hospital. PICC line placement is one of the effective CVC’s which prevents the chemotherapy drugs from leaking outside the veins, causing irritation and harm. You should look for a San Antonio PICC line placement expert who administers the treatment and elevates the problems associated with chemotherapy. Read on to learn why you should opt for PICC line placement.

Why You Should Use a PICC Line Placement During Treatment

PICC delivers medication to the larger central veins near the heart during treatment and ensures no medicine spillages out of the veins, which could irritate the nearby tissues. The PICC works well for chemotherapy patients who would require frequent needle sticks for blood draws and medicine delivery on the veins. It is a temporary procedure and would be suitable for patients who do not require extended treatments for one week. Although cancer patients mostly use it, it works well for people whose bodies cannot process nutrients, leading to liquid nutrition. It could also be used to deliver antibiotics and antifungal treatments for serious infections.

How to Prepare for PICC

Before undergoing PICC line treatment, your physician might recommend blood tests to ensure you have enough platelets; lack of platelets could predispose you to over bleeding during PICC treatment. In case of platelet shortage, you would get a blood transfusion, increase the number of platelets, or take medications that allow the body to produce it in adequate quantities. Then, the doctor would take imaging tests that show the veins’ position as it helps them adequately plan the procedure. Finally, they would discuss your health condition, it would be wise to let the doctor know of any previous injuries that could affect the PICC line placement.

What You Should Expect

The PICC is a simple procedure that might be administered to outpatients, it takes about an hour, and does not require a hospital stay. You will receive the numbing medication, which reduces discomfort. To place the PICC line, the physician will insert a needle through the skin and make a small incision, making it possible to insert the catheter.

Risks of PICC

Inserting the PICC line requires a minimally invasive procedure and has few risks, but it could lead to:

• Bleeding.
• Nerve injury.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Blood clots.
• And infection.

Your doctor would treat these complications immediately so that the PICC line remains in place. But if the complications cause serious health complications, you should resort to different types of CVC’s.

Final Thoughts

Chemotherapy and other highly potent antibacterial and antifungal treatments might require CVC delivery. You would opt for the PICC line placement to deliver the medications to the veins near the heart. The procedure is minimally invasive and has few side effects, and it might reduce the irritation that occurs when the medications seep into the nearby organs. Good luck in finding the CVC that works for your condition.