PICC line questions - A new medical adventure is about to begin. [View all]

My 79 yr old husband, who is in basic good health, was hit by a car 2 weeks ago while on his brand new Trek bike for only the second time. Always wears a helmet, which likely saved his life. No head, neck, spine, or internal injuries. Unfortunately, the ambulance called to the scene took him to the local hospital nearest to us, which has a mediocre reputation.

A good way to get the hell scared out of you is to open your door to find 2 uniformed police officers who ask:
- "Are you (my name)?" Yes
- "Are you married to (my husband's name)?" Yes

And then trying to keep your mental finger off the panic button while waiting to hear the third thing they are going to say.

He does have a deep laceration behind his left knee, which has not been healing well - so much swelling that the sutures placed in the ER ripped out as the wound edges pulled apart. He is now in a local hospital I do like and trust, getting IV antibiotics while infectious disease (ID), plastic surgery and orthopedics consult on the best approach to get this gaping hole closed up. He will be getting a PICC line put in so he can get 4-6 weeks of big gun antibiotics delivered. Fortunately, there is an infusion center run by the ID specialist about 1.5 miles from our house, so getting the daily doses of the antibiotics should be pretty easy.

My long nurse practitioner career was strictly in outpatient pediatrics - well child care, growth and development questions, potty training and temper tantrums, ear infections and strep throat, school/camp/sports physicals, etc. No expertise in wound care or PICC lines.

My husband says the PICC line nurse who has spoken to him says he will not be allowed to shower the whole time the line is in. Yuck!

Anyway, looking for any tips, tricks, success stories from any DUers who have had experience with PICC lines, either as the patient or the caregiver.

Thanks!

If this is not the appropriate forum please tell me and I will move it.