RE: telemetry and PICCs

[Dianne Sim]

Title: telemetry and PICCs

Admittedly, the risk is here, but how big a risk is it, and at what point can you justify the extra cost of telemetry/monitoring? Our team has placed 5,567 PICCs at the bedside since 1/1/2000, with approx. 80% without monitoring, and not had a single problem with ventricular arrythmias perceived.                                                          Regards, Dianne Sim RN CEO & President     IV Assist, Inc., 2675 Appian Way Pinole, CA  94564 Phone: (510) 222-8403 Fax: (510) 222-8277 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED]       Confidentiality Notice:  This e-mail and any attachments are intended only for the use of those to whom it is addressed and may contain information that is confidential and prohibited from further disclosure under law. If you have received this e-mail in error, its review, use, retention and/or distribution is strictly prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply e-mail and destroy all copies of the original message and any attachments.[v1.0] From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]] On Behalf Of Heather Nichols Sent: Tuesday, May 09, 2006 11:54 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED]; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: telemetry and PICCs   I have not seen much documented on this either, but anyone who does PICC placements knows it happens frequently.  It is not exactly a study that someone would come in and volunteer for.       I have often wished I could carry around a portable monitor to place on anyone I put a PICC in.  It may seem like over kill, but I feel like you can never be too cautious. I myself have put a patient into v-tach while placing a PICC.  It was barely in the right atrium.  I would never have known if the patient had not had a monitor.  He was sedated and therefore unable to verbalize.  The cost would not be that much if you were smart about it.  Get your own portable monitor, or have one in the room you are using to place lines.  Any nurse placing PICC's for a living should be able to recognize ectopy, so you really do not need anyone else to monitor.          Heather Nichols RN BSN CRNI Infusion Services University of Louisville Trauma Institute 530 S. Jackson St. Lou. Ky. 40202 (502)562-3530 >>> "Kilbourne, Susan" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> 5/9/2006 1:23 PM >>> I just had a visit from our infection control MD. She states that the physicians/surgeons group have decided that they need to do telemetry when placing central lines and want to require it for PICC placements as well. I have one article from Pediatric Anesthesia that talks about V-tach with PEDS PICC placements but other than that, this is not something I have heard of doing on everyone. I told her my concerns with added cost, competency and having portable telemetry units available. Are any of you doing telemetry during PICC placements? I think this is overkill but I need all the info I can get before they act on this. Sue Kilbourne CRNI, OCN Clincail Manager Vascular Access/Infusion Services Asante Hospital Systems   NOTE: The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer. E-mail has the potential to have been altered or corrupted due to transmission or conversion. It may not be appropriate to rely upon this E-mail in the same manner as hardcopy materials bearing the author's original signature or seal. Thank you. Asante® Health System ----------------------------------------------------- Confidentiality Disclaimer   If you are not the intended recipient(s), you are notified that the dissemination, distribution, or copying of this message is strictly prohibited.  If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender or contact the University of Louisville Health Care I.S. helpdesk at 502.562.3637 to report an inadvertently received message. -----------------------------------------------------