RE: Infused CTs and CVCs

[Blackburn, Paul]

Title: Message

Donna,   There are several PICCs on the market that have been approved by the FDA for power injection of contrast media.  If you patient did not have one of these PICCs in place, injecting contrast media through it is contraindicated, mainly due to the pressure exerted on the PICC by the power injector, and the rate of flow.  There are three PICCs on the market that are approved by the FDA for power injection of contrast media; the PowerPICC by Bard Access Systems (purple in color), the Morpheus by AngioDynamics, blue and white in color, the ProPICC and a new entrant to this realm, by Rita Medical--I don't recall the name or other identifying marks on this PICC.  If you institution uses one of these, you are in good shape.  If not, the FDA strongly cautions all institutions not to use a non-power injectable PICC for  these types of studies.  Paul   Paul L. Blackburn, RN, MNA Manager, Clinical Education Office: 800-443-5505, ext 4981 Mobile: 801-598-1657 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Donna Alden-Bugden, RN, MN Sent: Monday, February 06, 2006 7:27 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Infused CTs and CVCs   Does anyone know if you can use a CVC including a PICC for an infused CT. I had a patient the other day who had a PICC and was going for an infused CT. They said that they wanted an 18 G peripheral in the AC...I told them she had a PICC and they said they couldn't use the PICC for infused CT....so I had to poke this poor lady again...and I can't understand why (the only reason I can think of is perhaps the pressure used in infusing the dye may damage the PICC??). If regular IVs can be used for the dye, why can't PICCs??? Can you use PICCs for IVPs or are they a different case altogether. Please excuse my ignorance re: this topic as I am not a CRNI and I don't work with CVCs a lot up until now.   Donna   ***************************************************** Donna L. Alden-Bugden, NP, RN, BScN, MN(ANP) Nurse Practitioner & Emergency Nurse, Winnipeg, Manitoba [EMAIL PROTECTED] Alternate E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] The Canadian Nurse Practitioner Website http://www.NPCanada.ca *****************************************************