Peripherally inserted central catheter placement @ the speed of sound.

Over the past few years, one of the major advancements in bedside peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) placement has been the addition of portable ultrasound for vascular access. Traditional bedside PICC insertion success rates varied from 65% to 75% due to the limited visualized area of access available for PICC placement (1.5 inches above to 1.5 inches below the antecubital fossa). With the implementation of ultrasound, success rates have climbed to 91%-94% for bed-side-placed PICC. This article reviews the dynamics of ultrasound, provides practical tips to use image visualization, and illustrates the important key functions of this technology.