What is a PICC Line?

A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a flexible catheter that is inserted in a peripheral vein in the arm. This catheter is then guided to a larger vein that eventually leads to the heart. 

A PICC line is typically used to provide long term treatment to a patient using a large vein near the heart. The most common use cases include providing:

• Peripheral (PPN) or total parenteral nutrition (TPN) for those that need to supplement or replace their nutritional requirements.
• Medications such as antibiotics to fight a serious infection
• Chemotherapy for treatment of cancers