How to avoid the "reefs" on the health route

Author: Zheng Yuan, Shanxi Bethune Hospital

Reviewer: Tian Weiwei, Chief Physician, Department of Hematology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital; Cheng Hongxia, Deputy Chief Nurse, Department of Hematology, Shanxi Bethune Hospital

The lifeline on the health route - PICC catheter. Currently, PICC catheters are widely used in clinical practice due to their advantages such as less trauma, less pain, fewer complications, and longer retention time. They are especially important in the radiotherapy and chemotherapy of tumor patients, providing patients with medium- and long-term intravenous infusion therapy (7 days to 1 year), and also providing a safe and effective intravenous access for patients who need to infuse chemotherapy drugs, parenteral nutrition therapy, etc.

1. What is a PICC catheter?

It is the full name of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter PICC, which is a catheter insertion technology that punctures and inserts a catheter through a peripheral vein (usually the basilic vein, cephalic vein, and brachial vein in the upper arm) and positions its tip in the superior vena cava.

2. Complications after PICC catheter placement

Since catheterization is an invasive procedure, complications such as bleeding, redness, swelling, and venous thrombosis may occur at the puncture site (reefs). Because the limbs on the catheter side do not receive reasonable, timely, and full rehabilitation guidance and functional exercises, the incidence of complications in patients after surgery is 30%-40%. Effective functional exercises can improve limb blood flow and reduce the occurrence of complications such as thrombosis and phlebitis.

Prevention is very important to reduce the occurrence of complications, which requires the joint efforts and cooperation of medical staff and patients. Here we will introduce how to exercise after catheterization to effectively prevent the occurrence of complications.

3. How to prevent complications after PICC catheter insertion?

Recommend patients to perform effective functional exercises:

1. Finger joint exercises

Stretch the five fingers one by one, and when all are stretched, make a fist tightly. Practice with both hands alternately, maintaining each movement for 2 seconds, eight beats per section, for a total of two eight beats.

2. Wrist Exercises

Move your wrists up and down, and rotate them inward and outward, alternating between the two wrists. Each section has eight beats, for a total of two eight beats.

3. Elbow flexion exercise

Lift your arms forward, retract your forearms, and grip tightly, holding for 2 seconds each time, for a total of two eight beats.

4. Shoulder Exercise

Exercise your shoulder joints by shrugging your shoulders up and down and moving them forward and backward. Then open your hands and touch your shoulders. Maintain each movement for 2 seconds, for a total of two eight beats.

IV. Conclusion

Functional exercises after PICC catheter placement can effectively improve patient compliance with activities, effectively reduce the incidence of PICC catheterization complications, and prolong catheterization time; they can also improve the quality of care for patients with hematological tumors and increase nursing satisfaction. It is of great significance for preventing complications and improving patient comfort.