The PICC treatment team carried out ultrasound-guided implantation of intravenous infusion via internal jugular vein access

On June 1, a patient was seen in the IV catheterization clinic. 5 years after her left breast cancer surgery, she was unable to place PICC catheters in either arm due to bone metastasis and a humerus fracture in her right arm, and the deep vein catheter was withdrawn due to infection after less than a week. She and her family were very anxious because she could not receive fluids or chemotherapy. In order to solve the problem of long-term infusion therapy, intravenous infusion port is the only best choice. The patient and her family were seen by Director Qiao Aizhen, an IV catheter specialist at the Air Force General Hospital Hematology Research Center, who explained in detail about the IV port and patiently answered the patient’s questions. In the intravenous catheterization room, we started to prepare for the surgery. Specialist Qiao skillfully placed the catheter in the patient’s right internal jugular vein under ultrasound guidance, and Director Aymin Zheng made the surgical incision to bury the infusion port holder for the patient. The two directors carefully checked the scale of the catheter, connected the port, and finally fixed and sutured it in one go, and the surgery went very smoothly. The chest X-ray results returned that the infusion port and catheter were well positioned. The patient was left with tears of excitement that she could finally continue her treatment. After continuous research and improvement, we have developed a new technique of implanting an IV port via internal jugular vein access under ultrasound guidance, which has been carried out in more than 50 cases, all of which were successfully placed in one go without any complications. The application of this technique avoids the high risk of previous subclavian vein punctures and complications of catheter entrapment syndrome, and provides patients with a safe and lifelong access to intravenous therapy. Advantages of using the IV port: inter-treatment interval, maintenance schedule of every four weeks, ease of care, savings in maintenance costs and maintenance time. There is no exposed catheter outside the body, no need for dressing fixation, aesthetic and can protect the privacy of the patient, avoid the risk of catheter dislodgement and accidental extubation, and bathing, soaking, sauna and swimming are not affected, which maximizes the quality of life of the patient. It was a sunny afternoon, the wind was light and there was no rain, only the blazing sun baking the earth, along with my thoughts drifting away, I couldn’t find the quietness of my mind for a while, because the unfortunate child completed the operation successfully, I hope this smooth start brings her good luck! I also hope that our efforts can change the misfortune of these patients and bring them good news! –PICC treatment team, Ma Wei