Flow characteristics of peripherally inserted central catheters.

Purpose: Clinical applications of peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are limited by the relatively small lumina and long lengths of these devices. Quantitative analysis of the flow capabilities of a variety of PICCs was performed to aid in deciding which patients should have a PICC and in selecting the appropriate catheter.

Materials And Methods: Sixteen different PICCs from six manufacturers were infused at flow rates of 25-270 mL/h. Infusions were performed with distilled water, normal saline, total parenteral nutrition solution, intralipids, and blood. Flow versus pressure curves were generated for each PICC and infusate. Additional catheter data recorded included the working length, outer diameter (OD), and inner diameter (ID) of the PICCs.

Results: Because of the thin wall construction of polyurethane catheters, PICCs made from polyurethane showed much better flow rates than silicone PICCs of a comparable OD. The measured ODs of the PICCs were 4-6 F, whereas the IDs ranged from 0.012 to 0.032 inch. Because of the small ID of some PICCs, infusing blood or intralipids is not practical.

Conclusion: There is significant variability in the flow capabilities of available PICCs. Many of the PICCs require pressures greater than those that can be generated by commercially available infusion pumps. Matching PICC characteristics to the desired application will avoid many of the clinical problems currently encountered with PICCs.