Le motivazioni al posizionamento di un accesso vascolare centrale ad inserzione periferica: l’esperienza di un PICC Team.

Introduction: central or peripheral placement of a vascular device is the principal route for administering medications in hospitalized patients. The choice of the devices and their correct management are done to prevent repeated venipunctures during the patients’ hospitalization. Objective: the aim of this study is to describe the characteristics of patients who were administered with peripheral insertions of vascular devices by a PICC Team of nurses of the department the patients originally came from, and the reasons which led to the requests for vascular devices. Methods: from 1 June to 31 December 2012, 373 patients were enrolled in the study and for whom requests for implants of a PICC or Midline had been forwarded to the PICC Team. Results: it should be noted that the recourse to positioning of PICCs is a consolidated practice in many specialized areas, but in 42% of cases this is deterred by the impossibility of finding a peripheral venous access. It was furthermore noted that for this population of patients, the request arises on average after 15 days of hospitalization. The reasons behind the impossibility of finding a peripheral venous access are highlighted upon implanting the PICC, when operators detect a high incidence of phlebitis and infiltration as a result of venipunctures. Conclusions: the study demonstrates the need for nurses to make a timely evaluation of patients’ care pathways through the choice of better vascular devices, also for the vessel health preservation of the patients.