[RayGunter]

Re: PICC line or Hickman (central) line?

by RayGunter on Fri Sep 12, 2014 10:29 pm

I had both -- Hickman for harvesting, and PICC for transplant.

Hickman was in for 4 days. I hated it. It was extremely uncomfortable and painful. Any time I moved, it hurt. You don't think you use your neck much, but I found out that it's pretty much a core muscle that gets used all the time. I think they had a little trouble getting mine in, and maybe that caused my extra pain. It's always surprising to me when I hear people who had no issues with theirs.

As for the PICC line, I had one for each transplant, and they were in for about 2 weeks each time. I had no issues with them except it was annoying having them in, hanging out of me all the time.

So, for me, I'd choose the PICC line in a heartbeat, and I'd even push for it if they wanted the Hickman.

[wesley]

Re: PICC line or Hickman (central) line?

by wesley on Tue Sep 16, 2014 4:43 pm

I had a central line for the entire ASCT back in February. I was very happy with it. I do not have any experience with a PICC line.

Wesley

[pusser]

Re: PICC line or Hickman (central) line?

by pusser on Tue Sep 16, 2014 5:14 pm

I had a 3-line PICC for the 6 weeks or so of my SCT. Upper right chest (pacemaker was on the other side). One line was almost never used, but I guess it was there as a backup. No problems at all with it.

[pduncan742]

Re: PICC line or Hickman (central) line?

by pduncan742 on Sun Nov 22, 2015 10:52 pm

My brother had portachath installed and complained profusely that something was wrong after procedure. Dr had it xrayed and assured everything was fine. After 2 weeks of continued complaining that something was wrong, radiologist found that port line was indeed installed improperly and outside the artery or vein and dangling in chest cavity. Radiologist stated that only cardiologist or someone specializing in the procedure should be used. Is this true? Should Dr "that originally installed portacath" have used contrast with X-ray to see if it was indeed installed properly after hearing patients original complaints. Thanks for any input.