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Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the available configurations for the PowerPICC* catheter?

   The PowerPICC* catheter is currently offered in seven catheter configurations:

   • 4 Fr. Single Lumen PowerPICC* catheter
   • 5 Fr. Single Lumen PowerPICC* catheter
   • 5 Fr. Dual Lumen PowerPICC* catheter
   • 5 Fr. Triple Lumen PowerPICC*catheter (available thru the end of Q1 2012)
   • 5 Fr. Triple Lumen PowerPICC* HF catheter
   • 6 Fr. Dual Lumen PowerPICC* catheter 6 Fr. Triple Lumen PowerPICC* catheter

2. What is the flushing protocol for the PowerPICC* catheter?

   Flush the catheter with 10 ml of normal saline every 12 hours or after each use. In addition, lock each lumen of the catheter with heparinized saline. Usually, one ml per lumen is adequate.

3. What is the flushing protocol for the PowerPICC* catheter when using the end cap provided in your kits?

   Bard Access Systems does not recommend a change in the flushing protocol when using the end cap.

4. Can I power inject through conventional PICCs that are not indicated for power injection?

   No. Most PICCs are not designed to withstand the high pressures of power injection and should not be power injected through. Conventional PICCs are designed to tolerate pressures of 25-40 psi. This is well below the pressures required for power injection. The FDA posted a reminder on its website about power injecting through non-power injectable PICCs because of the large number of problems due to this practice. This can be found at: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/patientsafety/reminder-rvad.html

5. What are the physical specifications of the PowerPICC* catheter?

   Description	Lumen Size	Useable Length	Gravity Flow Rate (mL/hr)	Max. Power Injection Flow Rate (mL/sec)	Max. Power Injector Pressure Setting (psi)	Priming Volume (mL)
   4 Fr. SL PowerPICC* catheter	18	55 cm	1272	5	300	0.67
   5 Fr. SL PowerPICC* catheter	18	55 cm	1185	5	300	0.66
   5 Fr. DL PowerPICC* catheter	18 18	55 cm	578 578	5 5	300	0.57 0.57
   5 Fr. TL PowerPICC* catheter	18 20 20	55 cm	982 131 131	5 5 5	300	0.76 0.43 0.43
   5 Fr. TL PowerPICC* HF catheter	18 19 19	55 cm	743 280 280	5 5 5	300	0.68 0.44 0.44
   6 Fr. DL PowerPICC* catheter	18 18	55 cm	753 753	5 5	300	0.62 0.62
   6 Fr. TL PowerPICC* catheter	17 19 19	55 cm	1163 275 275	5 5 5	300	0.76 0.47 0.47

6. How do I order the PowerPICC* catheter?

   The PowerPICC* catheter can be ordered by calling Bard Access Systems Customer Service at 800-545-0890.

7. As a patient, how do I care for the PowerPICC* catheter?

   This link will take you to a brochure that instructs you on how to care for the PowerPICC* catheter: PowerPICC* Catheter Patient Guide, http://www.bardaccess.com/assets/pdfs/other/MC-0084-01_PICC_and_Maintenance_Guide_web.pdf

8. Who makes the PowerPICC* catheter?

   Bard Access Systems designed and manufactures the PowerPICC* catheter.

9. What tray configurations are available for PowerPICC* catheters?

   PowerPICC* catheters are available in Maximal Barrier, full and basic nursing trays. Maximal Barrier, full and basic nursing trays are available with Sherlock* TLS stylet and components. Maximal barrier and full kits are available with the Sherlock 3CG* TPS stylet and components. PowerPICC* catheters are also available in I.R. trays.

10. In addition to power injection, what are other uses for the lumens marked "power injectable" on the PowerPICC* catheter?

    In addition to power injection, lumens marked "power injectable" on the PowerPICC* catheter can be used in the following applications

    • Central venous pressure monitoring
    • Blood draw
    • Blood infusion
    • Infusion of liquids and medication

11. Which contrast media can be injected through the PowerPICC* catheter?

    Bard is not aware of any currently marketed injectable contrast media that cannot be infused through the PowerPICC* catheter when warmed to body temperature.

12. How do I care for the PowerPICC* catheter after power injection?

    After power injection, all lumens of the PowerPICC* catheter must be flushed with at least 10 ml of sterile normal saline. Use the push-stop method of flushing to effectively clear the catheter of contrast media. Use a 10 ml syringe or larger to prevent unsafe pressures on the catheter. In addition, lock each lumen of the catheter with heparinized saline. Usually, one ml per lumen is adequate.

13. Can I hand inject through the PowerPICC* catheter?

    It is possible to hand inject through the PowerPICC* catheter though this injection method will not take advantage of the 5 ml/sec maximum flow rates offered by the PowerPICC* catheter.

14. Can I power inject through the PowerPICC* catheter?

    Yes. The PowerPICC* catheter has been specially designed to tolerate the high pressures achieved in the power injection of contrast media. The power injector can be set at a maximum of 300 psi. All testing was completed with the contrast warmed to body temperature (37o C) using an extension set connected between a power injector and the catheter hub. The large red lumen of the Bard* Triple Lumen PowerPICC* catheters is rated for power injections up to 5 ml/s at 300 psi. Warning: Each of the small lumens of the Bard* Triple Lumen PowerPICC* catheters are not capable of power injection.

15. Can the PowerPICC* catheter be injected through if there is a bend in the catheter?

    Yes, as long as the PowerPICC* catheter is not kinked. Bends in the catheter will not reduce the maximum power injection flow rate from 5 ml/sec.

16. What sizes are available for the PowerPICC* HF catheter?

    The PowerPICC* HF catheter is available in a 5 French Triple Lumen configuration only. The large red lumen is 18 ga. Both small lumens, white and grey, are 19 ga.

17. What is the difference between PowerPICC* catheter and PowerPICC* HF catheter?

    The PowerPICC* HF catheter is a 5 Fr Triple Lumen power injectable PICC. It is an improved design over the 5 Fr Triple Lumen PowerPICC* catheter. The PowerPICC* HF catheter configurations performance has been optimized. The small lumens are now 19 ga. Specifically, the flow rate has been increased. Gravity flow rate in the large lumen is 743 ml/hr. Gravity flow rate in the small lumen(s) is 280 ml/hr. The reverse taper is 5 cm in length. All other design features are considered equivalent to the 5 Fr Triple Lumen PowerPICC* catheter.

    The PowerPICC* HF catheter also has a shortened reverse taper. The taper is 5 cm in length starting at the 0 cm mark on the catheter shaft. The catheter is approximately 6.5 Fr in diameter at the 0 cm mark. The taper allows for gently plugging of the insertion site to compensate for the dialated subcutaneous tissue track of the microintroducer sheath's outside diameter and provides excellent kink resistance.

18. Is the previous configuration still available for ordering? Which product do I have?

    5 Fr Triple Lumen PowerPICC* catheter configurations will be discontinued in 2012 and replaced with PowerPICC* HF catheter configurations. The new product codes are differentiated with a "Q" suffix to the existing product codes. For maximal barrier kit configurations, the product codes are differentiated with a "QD" suffix to the existing product codes.

19. Which lumens are capable of Central Venous Pressure Monitoring (CVPM)?

    All lumens of the PowerPICC* HF catheter can be used for CVPM.

20. What kind of needleless cap is recommended for use with the PowerPICC* HF catheter?

    A positive or neutral pressure needleless cap is recommended.

21. Can I draw blood thru the small lumens of the 5 Fr. Triple Lumen PowerPICC* HF catheter? The small lumens of the 5 Fr. Triple Lumen PowerPICC * HF catheter feel occluded when I draw blood.

    Yes. The small lumens of the 5 Fr. Triple Lumen PowerPICC * HF catheter are capable of drawing blood. It may feel similar to the small lumens of the 6 F Triple Lumen PowerPICC * catheter. The sluggish feel is normal due to the size of the lumen and does not necessarily indicate that the lumen is occluded. In general, more pressure is required to infuse or aspirate smaller lumens. Therefore, if the same amount of pressure is being applied to the syringe as with a larger lumen it will feel as if it is occluded when it is not.

    Bard recommends drawing blood through the large 18 ga red lumen when possible. When drawing blood, draw 0.5 ml, pause, allow the syringe to begin to fill with blood, and then continue aspiration.