Pediatric peripherally inserted central catheter program report: a summary of 4,536 catheter days.

Data were collected on all peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) inserted by one i.v. nurse clinician from July, 1989 to June, 1992 in an urban pediatric teaching hospital of more than 100 beds. Growth of this PICC program, as well as outcome of patients with PICCs, was recorded and compared to published reports. During the surveillance period, 269 PICCs were successfully inserted in 226 patients out of 330 patients referred for PICC placement. This article contains the outcome of that program. Catheter duration and rate of PICC complication at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) was comparable to eight other published reports. PICCs are an efficacious and safe method of i.v. access for intermediate to long-term use in children.