Vascular Access

Ensuring optimal care for DIVA patients

Ensuring optimal care for DIVA patients

The VAD (vascular access device) insertion experience varies between patients. For individuals with difficult intravenous access (DIVA), the process can become traumatic and notably painful. According to Blanco (2019), DIVA affects up to one-third of critically ill...

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5 midline complications to know

5 midline complications to know

The administration of drugs can give rise to problems such as phlebitis and extravasation among others, which can force us to use various peripheral routes. Over time, different devices have emerged, including midlines. Scientific evidence shows us that this class of...

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Ultrasound in the placement of PICCs and midlines

Ultrasound in the placement of PICCs and midlines

As the GAVeCeLT group (1) stated in their manual on PICCs and midlines regarding the evolution of PICC use, the introduction of ultrasound in the 2000s has been a breakthrough in the field. In this article, we delve into the utility of ultrasound in the field of...

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5 things to know about thrombosis in PICCs

5 things to know about thrombosis in PICCs

In this article, we will address thrombosis in peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) based on the following aspects: incidence, causes, physiology, symptomatology, and prevention. What is thrombosis? Thrombosis is the formation of a clot in a vessel. It can...

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The PICC-port revolution

The PICC-port revolution

The PICC-port is the latest breakthrough in Venous Access Devices (VADs) and is now included in the DavExpert app's solution for patients. New studies are showing it is a safe, effective, efficient and goodlooking option for cancer patients. How has this device...

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What are the advantages of PICC-port?

What are the advantages of PICC-port?

PICC-port is an implanted catheter that is undoubtedly gaining ground in the world of vascular access. Its growing success is not surprising: it comes with new indications, cost reduction and patient satisfaction. Even if PICC-port has been in use for several decades,...

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How to locate the tip of a PICC

How to locate the tip of a PICC

The reference guidelines on vascular access leave no doubt: it is essential to position and correctly locate the tip of a PICC. Otherwise, healthcare professionals risk encountering complications that can jeopardize the ongoing treatment and even the patient's health....

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ZIM method and tunnelling in PICC placement

ZIM method and tunnelling in PICC placement

In Intravenous Therapy Teams, PICC placement using standard MST (Modified Seldinger Technique) is common practice and generally well controlled. However, complications can arise if the standard technique is applied, and the insertion site is unsuitable. Failure to...

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5 key advantages of midlines you should know of

5 key advantages of midlines you should know of

Short Peripheral Intravenous Catheters (SPIVCs) are commonly used as default vascular access devices by practicians around the world for short and midterm therapies. However, they can be a problem in case of medium therapies as that would entail the insertion of...

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PICC placement in patients with Atrial Fibrillation

PICC placement in patients with Atrial Fibrillation

According to the studies by Dr Pittiruti and Dr LaGreca Since the late 1980s, Dr Pittiruti and Dr LaGreca of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Agostino Gemelli in Rome have been researching the possibility of using ECG to locate the tip of a PICC. In 1989 (1),...

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