How does it work?
PICCs are placed at the patient’s bedside or in the radiology department. In adult patients, PICC lines are inserted in a vein in the upper part of the arm. In pediatric patients, PICC lines are inserted into the basilic, cephalic, saphenous or scalp vein depending on the patient’s age and mobility.

Once inserted into a vein, the catheter is advanced until it is either in the distal superior vena cava (SVC)/caval-atrial junction(CAJ) or in the inferior vena cava (IVC) above the level of the diaphragm to ensure avoidance of the hepatic and renal veins. When the PICC line has been placed, a chest X-Ray will be taken to verify that the PICC tip is in the perfect location before the line is used.