Photos galore.....If you have some of your own feel free to add.
Here is what my PICC looked like (the dressing done at the time of the photo was not a good one, very little protection for the extension set of my PICC, but you can see a good example of the "skins" that might be used for a dressing)
Here is an example of a "Hep lock". It's an IV catheter w/a small extension set that is flushed and capped off for later use, an IV left temporarily in place. Mine's a little gross (sorry, some blood had flushed back up the line). It's in my right elbow.
Here's what an NG tube looks like, it's pretty much the same for an adult, this is one that one of my daughters had.
If you end up w/a PICC or midline ask about having a "statlock". They're great, and made for all kinds of picc lines. They help keep the extension set secure. This is an example
This is how the extension set of the PICC will snap into place
On your arm it's like this, (a typical set up for a PICC)
Now connected to the IV tubing, to run fluids/meds
Saline and Heparin flushes (pretty standard) These are the non "needle tip" kind.
Hooked up to flush the PICC line
A standard cap for a PICC/IV line and a special one called a PosiFlow. When you use a posiflow cap, no need to use a regular end cap. It maintains nuetral pressure (no fluid going in or coming out of the line). The blue posiflow cap goes on the extension set. Certain PICCs might not work w/a posiflow (ie a groshong)
Our friendly IV bag - the blue tip is removed and the IV tubing is connected on that side. The left "tube" is for needles- ie adding things into your IV bag.
Standard 6ft IV tubing
This end goes into the IV bag
Like this
This is the end that goes to your picc line/extender set
IMG]http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b161/teddiivey/HG%20photos/June162006079.jpg[/IMG]
The tips of all these connections are to be kept STERILE at all times, no touching them directly, dragging them along surfaces.
Example of an extension set (these connect to the actual picc line that comes out of your arm, the "lumen")
One way you might cap off your extension set (instead of like a posiflow)
The clamp and regulator of the IV tubing. The dark blue you just can use to clamp or stop the IV drip. The light blue one you can adjust the flow. Some regulators look different and actually have guides on them to set the flow (certain ml per hour, etc).
These are the actual PICC lines themselves. Various types of Groshong PICCS (these have special "valve" functions at the tips that are inside your arm)
A double lumen PICC
A triple lumen PICC
More info on the groshong PICC- great also to understand HOW the basic insertion works. Great illustrations of how it all works inside your arm/vein.
http://www.bardaccess.com/pdfs/patient/pg-grosh-picc.pdf
More photos and insertion info:
http://www.picclines-sat.com/serv01.htm
Detailed PosiFlow info (I really like mine, so convient)
http://www.bd.com/ca/pdfs/safety/products/infusion/iv_access/posiflow_patient_guide.pdf#search='PosiFlow'
Website for the Statlocks (I so HATED my dressings when these were NOT used, worked really well and I would recommend having on to keep your pICC secure)
http://www.statlock.com/products.html