Question:
My doctor tol me today that i need a central line?

he first told me that i would need what i could have swore he called it was a pickle line??????huh and then he said that he would just put in a central line when finding out that my surgery was on a monday??? what are they talkin about im gettin scared!!!!    — Amanda G. (posted on February 5, 2002)

February 5, 2002
Amanda,I am not sure what a pickle line is??? But I do know a central line is placed in the "shoulder chest" area, my father has had them several times for chemothrapy, I also know they are used to administer medications and also draw blood, it only takes a few minutes,he said it wasnt painful at all, they can be left in for longer than an i.v. maybe that is why your doctor uses them? I am deathly afraid of needles, just from what my dad has told me a central line is much better than being poked time after time, I wish you luck!! Becky
   — rebecca N.

February 5, 2002
Your dr. was talking about a PIC line. Percutaneous (thru the skin) intravenous (in the vein) catheter (tube). It is better than a regular iv because it lasts longer. It is placed by a person,sometimes a nurse, specially trained. It is a much longer tube than a regular iv, but is still very small in diameter. I have seen many, but never had one myself. I would guess that it doesnt hurt much when inserted, and they may even inject a little skin anesthetic. It is also considered a central line since it is threaded up the vein quite far. Hope this helps. Trust me, much better than a regular iv, and usually prevents the human pincushion syndrome.:)
   — [Anonymous]

February 5, 2002

   — Shelley.