Peripherally inserted central catheters can cause blood clots in lower limbs

(Elsevier Health Sciences) Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) are frequently used by healthcare professionals to obtain long-term central venous access in hospitalized patients. While there are numerous benefits associated with PICCs, a potential complication is deep vein thrombosis (DVT), or blood clots, in upper limbs. A new study of more than 70,000 patients in 48 Michigan hospitals indicates that PICC use is associated not only with upper-extremity DVT, but also with lower-extre...