TITLE:
Nursing Progress in the Management of Fibrous Sheath Complications in Patients with PICC Catheters
AUTHORS:
Gaijing Wang, Jie Cui, Jing Wang, Lei Su, Miaomiao Song, Yanling Li, Yuanyuan Yang, Jiale Lu, Zhihui Cai, Fei Li, Haimei Ren
KEYWORDS:
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter, Fibrous Sheath, Difficult Catheter Removal, Nursing
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Biosciences and Medicines,
Vol.13 No.6,
June
10,
2025
ABSTRACT: PICC is widely used in clinical practice due to its advantages of easy insertion, safety and cost-effectiveness, providing a reliable intravenous infusion pathway for patients undergoing chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition and home-based care. However, difficult catheter removal caused by fibrous sheath formation poses a significant challenge. This article reviews the current literature on the causes of fibrous sheath formation and nursing intervention strategies. Studies have shown that standardized PICC maintenance can reduce fibrous sheath formation. Low-dose urokinase and tPA-containing saline can improve recanalization rates to 95.3%. Salvia miltiorrhiza (Danshen) can inhibit sheath formation from the source. Patient education combined with monitoring can improve prognosis and reduce complications. These findings provide clinical nurses with practical guidelines to enhance PICC management safety and effectiveness, ultimately reducing patient harm and healthcare burdens.