I have not seen this but it is quite possible to occur due to
catheter tip migration inward. Lynn
At 8:25 AM -0600 10/11/06, Hallene E Utter wrote:
Has anyone heard of a PICC tip being in the RA for a few minutes at the time of placement before being pulled back to the SVC after CXR showed it was in the RA being responsible for the patient developing SVT later? I have a pt complaining that his SVT now was caused by a PICC 3 years ago because the tip dipped into the atrium? The line was pulled back to lie in the SVC after CXR showed tip in RA. This was a silicone catheter, not trimmed, full 60 cm length. Placed before we used ultrasound, at the antecubital area. Line was placed in 2003. Diagnosis was neutropenia. I don't know rest of history, but patient's doctor told him the reason he is having episodic SVT now is due to a PICC line placed 3 years ago. Of course a floppy tip in RA could cause an arrythmmia at the time of placement, but has anyone ever heard of arrythmmias developing down the road from a PICC?
Halle Utter, RN, BSN
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Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RNC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
http://www.hadawayassociates.com
office 770-358-7861
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
http://www.hadawayassociates.com
office 770-358-7861
