Overview

Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICCs)

Your doctor may determine that as part of your treatment, you will need to receive your medications by intravenous injection. Intravenous (IV) injection is the injection of the drug into a vein, a blood vessel that directs blood back to your heart. If your doctor has determined that your treatment will need to continue over a period of a few weeks, insertion of a PICC may make this possible.

A PICC is a special type of catheter, a long, soft, hollow tube that may have one or two openings called lumens, that are used to deliver your medications.

Implantable Ports

Your doctor may have determined that as part of your treatment, you will need to receive your medications by intravenous (IV) injection through an implantable port. This method of drug delivery involves infusion of your medication through an imlantable port into a large vein, a blood vessel that directs blood back to your heart.

If your doctor has determined that your treatment will need to continue over a period of months, insertion of an implantable port is intended to make this possible.

An implantable port is a special type of device that provides long-term access to blood vessels. The port is placed just under the skin on the upper part of the chest wall. The smallest ports are often placed just under the skin on the arm.