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Anyone get an ultrasound of swollen picc line arm?

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Posted 4/14/2015 1:24 AM (GMT 0)
Has anyone ever gotten an ultrasound of their picc line arm to check for blood clots. I was wondering what the normal procedure for this is. My doctor sent me to the surgeon today because I was having some swelling in my arm with the picc line. They removed my sterile bandage and all was on my arm was the biopach and a steristrip and the tech put ultrasound gel all over my arm and started the ultrasound and moved it all around and even close to the site. Then he wiped my arm off including the area by the biopatch with the non sterile towel that was next to him. I thought that all sterile techniques needed to be followed when badages are off the picc line. My doctor doesn't seem to worried but I am worried about getting an infection. What do you guys think...should I be worried????
Posted 4/14/2015 2:01 AM (GMT 0)
I just had my right arm PICC pulled and then had an ultrasound done to check for a clot. All clear, so they gave me a new PICC in the left arm. I bled really badly this time. The attending doc put it in and the resident put the stat lock on with no bio patch. There was blood pooled on my arm, and he just put the bandage over it. The doc said I could wait a week before a dressing change. Seriously?! I called my nurse and she came the next morning and cleaned it up. What a mess. My arm is still very bruised. From a simple PICC!

I was once told by the nurse that, as long as the bio patch keeps the tip of the PICC covered, you should be fine. Naturally,you have to keep the entire extension set clean, but I wouldn't worry.

How is it now? Swollen still? Did you have it cleaned well?
Good luck with it!
Posted 4/14/2015 4:39 AM (GMT 0)
My arm is still swollen. They think it is from the allergic reaction to the adhesives. They dry wrapped the site with sterile gauze hoping it would calm it down. The nurse who did it today her technique was horrible but I did make sure she cleaned it well. I plan on having it changed tomorrow by my nurse. I hate just having the sterile wrap it makes me so nervous. Why did you have to have your first picc line removed?
Posted 4/14/2015 10:52 PM (GMT 0)
I too was allergic to the adhesive, but we tried a different brand of dressing change, and what a difference!

How are you feeling today? Is it swollen? Red? Bumpy?

My fingers started turning blue on that hand, on and off. Nothing to do with the arm band or wrapping it to bathe, etc. turns out it was circulatory in nature and nothing to do with the PICC. Hopefully left arm PICC poses no problems, I am all outa arms!

I hope you are doing well today :-)
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