Efficacy and Safety of Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Catheters

Central venous access is critical for administering intravenous medications, parenteral nutrition, and fluid therapy in intensive care units (ICUs). Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) provide an alternative to traditional centrally placed catheters, but they can be associated with complications such as blood clots (thrombosis), catheter-related infections, and mechanical blockages. The primary purpose of this study is to assess the procedural efficacy, functional lifespan, and complication rates of ultrasound-guided PICCs in critically ill adult patients.

In this prospective observational study, 60 adult ICU patients who require central venous access for at least 5 to 7 days will undergo bedside PICC placement by radiology staff using real-time ultrasound guidance and the modified Seldinger technique. Proper positioning of the catheter tip will be verified by a portable chest radiograph immediately after insertion.

Participants will be monitored daily while the catheter remains in place until line removal, ICU discharge, or death. Surveillance includes daily clinical site inspections, structured laboratory assessments, and scheduled compression Doppler ultrasound scans to check for blood clots in the cannulated arm. If an infection or blockage is suspected, appropriate blood cultures and diagnostic work-ups will be conducted. The gathered data will determine the insertion success rate, functional patency rate, and the overall incidence of complications per 1,000 catheter-days to establish evidence-based guidelines for vascular access in critical care.