Mayo Clinic proceedings
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To report the success rate and complications associated with peripherally inserted central venous catheters (PICCs) and to compare costs between PICCs and centrally inserted central catheters. ⋯ PICCs can satisfy long-term vascular needs and are safe in many patient populations. The infection rate did not depend on insertion mode, lumen number, or patient's immune status. Use of total parenteral nutrition was the most important risk factor in all patient subsets. Cost and safety considerations strongly favor PICCs as alternatives to other vascular access devices.