Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs) in CKD: PICC’ing the Best Access for Kidney Disease Patients

The use of peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) has increased significantly in recent years,1,2 in part due to perceived advantages over other forms of venous access, particularly among patients with difficult-to-obtain intravenous access. It is generally accepted that PICCs are safe and effective while having the benefits of ease of placement, a lower rate of procedure-related complications, and the potential for lower costs in comparison to other forms of venous access.3,4 Most importantly, PICCs are viewed as highly convenient for both patients and physicians because they are often inserted by nurse-led teams, can be used for phlebotomy, can substitute for nontunneled central lines that have greater insertion-associated risk, and can remain in place following discharge, allowing for home rather than hospital administration of medications, including antibiotics (Table 1).