Early Detection of PICC-related Deep Vein Thrombosis by US Surveillance: an Effective Approach for Secondary Prevention?

All PICCs are positioned by trained physicians and nurses, after ultrasonographic screening of the whole upper limbs venous district, axillary, subclavian and jugular veins for detecting possible pre-existing thrombosis; positioning is performed with real-time ultrasonography guide with a portable device. Patients are recontrolled one week after positioning; patients who report pain, swelling, fever, skin colour changes, exit site tenderness, or any symptom suspected for thrombosis or infection, are immediately seen. A duplex ultrasound complete examination of the upper limb and neck vessels is performed, and at the same time the whole arm and the exit site is inspected to exclude infections; diagnostic criteria for DVT include incompressibility of the vein and direct visualisation of PICC-surrounding thrombus; in uncertain cases, a doppler examination is performed.If the examination is negative for thrombosis, further controls are performed at 2,3,4 weeks after positioning, then once a month.If a DVT is detected, we register the position and extension of the thrombus, and its main characteristics (clot, mural or occlusive thrombosis); the catheter is left in place and a therapy is prescribed with LMWH at full doses, according with ACCP guidelines 2008 (confirmed in 2012 edition). Then, the patient is recontrolled weekly until removal of the catheter.

Inclusion criteria

• all patients undergoing a PICC-line positioning during a five-months period

Exclusion criteria

• age<18,complete paresis of the arm, history of previous DVT in the same arm, expected very short PICC indwelling time (less than 1 week).