Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) Placement

A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a long, soft catheter (tube), usually used for drug or fluid infusion, that’s placed in a vein in the arm above the bend in the elbow. Children’s Hospital Boston’s Division of Interventional Radiology uses ultrasound and a special type of x-ray technology, called fluoroscopy, to guide the placement of the catheter.
 

How Children’s approaches peripherally inserted catheter (PICC) placement

Our pediatric interventional radiologists, the doctors who do the procedure, are highly trained in performing invasive procedures on infants and children.

PICC may be placed into the superficial veins at the elbow without image guidance by specially trained nurses and anesthesiologists. The advantage of PICC placement is that image guidance can be used to place the line directly into a vein above the elbow. In this way, the catheter does not interfere with elbow movement.

In addition to the interventional radiologist, your child will be cared for by a team of anesthesiologists, nurse practitioners, nurses and technologists who specialize in caring for children undergoing interventional radiology procedures and treatments.
 
We perform PICC placements in our suite on the second floor of the hospital, which features three procedure rooms equipped with the latest imaging technology, a recovery area for patients who have received sedation or anesthesia and examining rooms for outpatients.