Peripherally inserted central catheters--use in home care.

Reliable vascular access is essential for any type of intravenous therapy. The movement of many intravenous therapies to the home setting has placed a greater burden on home care nurses to maintain reliable vascular access. In the past, when peripheral venous access became unmanageable, a central venous device such as a tunneled silastic catheter or a polyurethane subclavian line was placed. Peripherally inserted central venous catheters now offer an alternative to this type of device. These devices, nicknamed long-arm or long-line catheters, are providing reliable vascular access for many therapies. They are inserted by specially trained nurses in the home. They offer fewer complications, decreased cost and improved patient comfort. The phlebitis rate and other catheter-related complications are examined. Nurse training and insertion procedures are explored in this small pilot study.