Trimming of Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters: The End Result

A debate surfaced in the neonatal literature over two years ago questioning the safety and efficacy of trimming peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) prior to insertion. An investigation was undertaken to define the risks and benifits of doing so and evaluate the methods of trimming PICCs. When trimmed by 1 of 3 methods, conclusive evidence revealed that the method of catheter trimming affects the integrity of the catheter tip. Additional study is required to determine whether catheter tip alteration impacts patient outcomes.