Question:
Are PICC lines used routinely for LAP RNY instead of regular IV?

   — carolemc (posted on July 27, 2009)

July 27, 2009
My surgeon used regular iv line but I blew it twice so they put a picc line in...after that...I wished I had picc line in the first place...a lot less pokes...
   — RMO1972

July 27, 2009
I had a picc line in my neck. It was a little weird, but I never had to worry about trying to get my robe on over an IV, and after the first day, they just disconnected it from all the IV fluids so that I could walk, and when I came back to my room, they just re-connected me up again. After about 24 hours, they discontinued all fluids and antibiotics, and just left the line in for IV pain meds or in case I suddenly started getting dehydrated. They took it out the morning I left. That was the only uncomfortable part....they thought they'd have to find 4 stitches holding it in, but someone had hidden a 5th stitch in there. And since it was going into my jugular vein, it was a little scary... I was worried about bleeding. But it never happened. And all in all, I guess I have to say that it didn't bother me....they didn't put it in until after I was asleep in the OR, so I didn't have to deal with the stress of being poked with a BIG needle and having a catheter threaded down however far they do it.
   — Erica Alikchihoo

July 27, 2009
I am what they call a hard stick my veins are deap and they move. On surgery day they had trouble with getting an IV started 3 people 6 sticks later they started a temp one till I went in for surgery then while I was out they put in a picc line. It was the best and easiest thing for me. Best thing no more sticks for entire hospital stay.
   — angelam43

July 27, 2009
Hi As the above posts indicates, it depends on the individual. My surgeon told me it would be up to the anesthesiologist. When I was in in pre-op the nurse-anesthetist that would be in direct management of my anesthesia and the supervising anesthesiologist came in and looked at my veins and decided all I needed was a peripheral iv line. The lady next to me going for the same surgery, same supervising anesthesiologist, needed a central (internal jugular) line. Whatever they think they will need to have good access during surgery is what you want. Kevin
   — hapkidodoc

July 27, 2009
Hi As the above posts indicates, it depends on the individual. My surgeon told me it would be up to the anesthesiologist. When I was in in pre-op the nurse-anesthetist that would be in direct management of my anesthesia and the supervising anesthesiologist came in and looked at my veins and decided all I needed was a peripheral iv line. The lady next to me going for the same surgery, same supervising anesthesiologist, needed a central (internal jugular) line. Whatever they think they will need to have good access during surgery is what you want. Kevin
   — hapkidodoc

July 31, 2009
They put my pic line in my neck after I was asleep and they removed it and put am IV in my arm before I woke up. I never knew anything about it except that afterwards I looked at the spot they put the pic line in and they put it straight through a little mole and it split it so now I have 2 little bitty moles right next to each other :-) Good Luck!! Angela, Ms, Lap RNY Jan 03, 230/118
   — Angela Snow