Peripherally inserted central catheters and their use in i.v. therapy.

Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) can adequately and safely meet the needs of patients who require short- to long-term therapy in many clinical settings. Moreover, PICCs have been successfully used in the delivery of i.v. therapy in the patient's home. There is evidence available which indicates that a PICC can minimize the trauma to patients who undergo multiple, repeated cannulations. PICCs can also reduce catheter-related risks such as thrombophlebitis, infection and insertion-related complications. The use of PICCs has been shown to be clinically effective as well as cost-effective. In many centres nurses are leading developments in IV therapy. In order to ensure that high quality, clinically effective patient care is developed, patients must undergo thorough assessment before device selection.