PICC Lines

MOBILE, Ala. (WALA) - It can be really scary when our children are sick. But, a procedure at a local hospital can allow children to spend their time at home, instead of a hospital bed.

U.S.A. Children's and Women's Hospital in Mobile specializes in kids and women. And, one of the things you will find here are PICC lines for children. Windi Allen is a nurse at the hospital and she works with the PICC lines. Windi explains, "a PICC line is something we offer for children for different needs. They can need prolonged IV therapy or they can need frequent lab work done. And, what this provides them is a solution to not having to be stuck with catheters repeatedly. And, it also offers a child to be able to go home. If they have prolonged antibiotic therapy course for say 6 weeks, they can get the line put in and actually not have to stay in the hospital for 6 weeks." Windi says, "it's a really big deal" to give children and their families this choice.
The PICC lines are specific to each child. Windi explains, "we have 7 different lines that we put in, ranging from 7 different sizes. The larger one is for a larger child and the smallest one is for a newborn."

It takes a lot of skill and training to work with the PICC lines because they are inserted under the skin and move through the body. Windi says, "it ends up you're trying to get the line to the big vessel that leads to their heart. It's called the superior vena cava, and that's where it ends up." It's a very specialized procedure that allows for children to go home and not feel as much pain. A good deal for both children and their families.

For more information on U.S.A. Children's and Women's Hospital, click here . For more details on PICC lines, click here.