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Tue, 08/23/2011 - 12:30

sg75095

PICC lines with electrical current treatment

Does any one have info on this. We recieved a call from a pt that has a picc line and is recieving electrical current treatments to stimulate her muscles. They are doing the arms and are hesitant to do the arm with the picc line, any thoughts?

Thanks

Tue, 08/23/2011 - 13:57

lynncrni

I have never heard of this as

I have never heard of this as a form of treatment for any muscular problem. The idea of destroying intraluminal biofilm with very low electrical current has been circulated but has not been made commercially available yet. So I have no idea about this treatment your have raised. What problem is being treated? How is the PICC being used? I would venture to guess that this would be an off-label use for any PICC, but a healthcare provider can decide to use any drug or device for what ever they want to. Off-label only really means that the product manufacturer can not make claims and promote this off-label use. Lynn

Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI

Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.

PO Box 10

Milner, GA 30257

Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com

Office Phone 770-358-7861

Tue, 08/23/2011 - 15:48

(Reply to #2) #3

sg75095

The PICC is for antibiotics,

The PICC is for antibiotics, the patient stated that the electrical current is being used to help build up her muscles. The place she goes to for physcial therapy is hesitant to do the arm with the PICC. They are not using the PICC for the treatment of her muscles..

Tue, 08/23/2011 - 18:30

(Reply to #3) #4

MarkCVL

I have no insite on the

I have no insite on the muscle stimulator being used on the same arm as the PICC....but my question ...Could the fluid within the PICC, at rest (NS or Hep)....could this fluid conduct the impulse? I would check with a physical therapy instructor at a school in your area. Please share you findings with the group.

Tue, 08/23/2011 - 20:10

lynncrni

Oh, sorry for my

Oh, sorry for my misunderstanding. I would speak with PT to get a true understanding of what they are doing. The first thing that comes to my mind is iontophoresis, which should not be a problem for the PICC. But I would want to know definitely from the PT what they are doing. Lynn