Anyone any experience of Picc lines?

[VivaLeBeaver]

My dad is having one fitted next week. He's been told he has to go into hospital every third day to have it flushed and dressed, he isn't allowed to do it himself.

Now he isn't well at all and this is goingto be a problem, many days he's unable to get out of bed.

I've googled and other hospitals allow patients or relatives to do their own. They show them how to do it and off you go. I'm a midwife as well so do you think it's worth asking if I can do it. I have no experience of Picc lines but I flush normal iv lines, know about sterile proceedures, etc.

Hi I have a picc line. Have had one for about 6 months. Mine is only flushed once a week with saline but I know that when I was an inpatient only certain nurses would flush it some refused. If you dad really isn't well I'm sure the district nurse could come out to flush it. I think this would need to be organised through the hospital.

Thinking of you and your dad.

Yes i am sure they would be happy for you to do it...get the hospital to refer him to District nursing team so you can get the supplies ordered through your GP.
We do picc line flushes in patients homes when they aren't well enough to get into hospital...would be very happy for trained relative to do it.

Thanks for the replies. I'll ask at clinic when he has it put in. Hope you're ok graciesmall. But yes if they won't let me do it I'd prefer the district nurses coming and doing it.

Flushing a PICC is no more technically demanding than flushing a cannula, there's no reason why you shouldn't be able to do it once they know you're a midwife.
Good luck, hope your Dad's ok.