Neonatal and pediatric perspectives in PICC placement.

The nurse providing care to the acute or critically ill child is all too familiar with the issues surrounding vascular access. Establishing and maintaining the correct access device is an ongoing problem. There are several types of vascular access devices available to the patient. Before placing any device, a thorough assessment of the patient is necessary. Choosing the wrong device can delay or interrupt the application of therapy. A peripherally inserted central catheter is one example of a vascular access device, and it is defined as a catheter inserted via a peripheral vein with the tip residing in the superior or inferior vena cava. This type of central catheter is commonly used in pediatric patients because it can offer reliable and stable vascular access. When appropriate, children with peripherally inserted central catheters can be discharged to the outpatient setting.