Comparison of Two ECG Guided PICC Insertion Techniques

Comparison of Two ECG Guided PICC Insertion Techniques, a Randomized Controlled Trial

The aim of our study is to compare two ECG techniques for guiding Peripherally Inserted Central Venous Cather (PICC) in terms of accuracy of the final position of the catheter tip.

One technique uses ECG signal transmission with saline water and allows external catheter length adjustment while the other technique uses a guidewire for signal transmission thus requiring prior catheter length adjustment

Inclusion Criteria:

• Informed Consent as documented by signature (Appendix Informed Consent Form)
• Adult > 18 years
• Referred to the interventional radiology department for PICC insertion

Exclusion Criteria:

• Known or suspected non-compliance
• Inability to follow the procedures of the study, e.g. due to language problems, psychological disorders, dementia, etc. of the participant
• Previous enrolment into the current study
• Enrolment of the investigator, his/her family members, employees and other dependent persons
• Impairment of the heart rhythm changing the presentation of the P wave (atrial fibrillation, atrial flutter, severe tachycardia, pacemaker driven rhythm)
• Enrolled in conflicting research study
• Weight> 150 kg, technical limit for the fluoroscopy table
• Impossibility of obtaining informed consent
• Refusal to be informed in the event of a chance discovery