An interesting anecdote for you PICC nurses! My newest most insecure PICC nurse had quite a weekend. She placed a PICC in a patient, using MST and ultrasound, and everything went smoothly. She had the dressing on and had flushed with Heparin and was just beginning to clean up the sterile field and the patient said she felt funny in the head. They put her head back thinking she was feeling faint. Then the patient said she needed a bucket, she was going to throw up, which she did. Then she said she couldn't breathe! And then she lit up like a Christmas tree with hives from head to toe! They called for help and the PICC nurse, scared to death, pulled the PICC out. The patient was treated with benadryl and O2 and was monitored closely, her symptoms resolved and she got through it ok. The physician indicated it was an allergic reaction to something - heparin, lidocaine, the PICC material itself (polyurethane), who knows.. The chart was marked with both the heparin and lido allergy.
My poor nurse had the poop scared out of her - as I think we all would have had! This, of course, was a lady that the PICC nurse had to work hard at convincing the patient and her son of the benefits of a PICC line! Anyone ever see this happen? Anything suggestions other than to not place a PICC in this lady ever again?
Wendy Erickson RN
PICC Service Coordinator
Luther Hospital - Mayo Health System
Eau Claire WI
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