The role of the registered nurse in determining distal tip placement of peripherally inserted central catheters by chest radiograph.

摘要

The peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) was introduced in the last quarter of the 20th century.1 The catheter is inserted percutaneously through the veins and advanced until the tip resides in the lower one-third of the superior vena cava (SVC) to the junction of the SVC and the right atrium.2'3 The catheter may be inserted by a specially trained registered nurse (RN). Radiographic determination of appropriate catheter tip location is made by a physician, and the catheter can then be used for infusion therapy.