Community management of peripherally inserted central catheters

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are increasingly being used in the UK to allow patients requiring medium-to-long term venous access for a range of therapies, including ambulatory chemotherapy, to receive their treatment at home, away from the hospital setting. This article provides information for community nurses on the background of PICC lines in the UK, and practical advice on how to clinically maintain and manage these lines. Complications relating to PICCs are discussed, including how to recognize and deal with these complications in the community, and when to refer back to the specialist centre. The author leads at a nurse-managed PICC insertion service at a major cancer centre in Wales. The ongoing success of this service relies heavily on the skill and expertise of the community nurses who support the service.