Objective      To determine the effects of automatic pumping of normal saline and manual injection of normal saline on the stability and accuracy for guiding intracavitary electrocardiography via Groshong peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). Methods      A total of 180 carcinoma patients (more than 20 years old) undergoing elective periodic infusion chemotherapy through Groshong PICC in our hospital from January to May 2016 were recruited in this study. They were randomly divided into the experimental group and control group (n=90 for each group). The experimental group received normal saline by automatically pumping to guide intracavitary electrocardiography via Groshong PICC

while those of the control group underwent manual injection. The proportion of stable intracavitary electrocardiogram

accuracy of catheter tip location

rate of ectopic situation

incidence of P-wave signals

amount of normal saline and volume of bleeding at the puncture point within 24 h

and the occurrences of PICC-induced mechanical phlebitis and upper-extremity deep vein thrombosis were recorded and compared between the 2 groups. Results      In the experimental group

the proportion of stable intracavitary electrocardiogram (92.22% vs 74.44%)

accuracy of catheter tip location (94.44% vs 84.44%) incidence of P-wave signals (93.33% vs 80.00%) were significantly higher than those in the control group (all P0.05). While

the rate of ectopic situation (5.56% vs 15.56%)

amount of normal saline  (7.24±1.69 vs 26.78±10.52 mL)

volume of perioperative bleeding (2.39±1.01 vs 5.34±1.36 mL) were obviously lower in the former than the latter group (all P0.05). What’s more

the experimental group also had notable reduced bleeding volume at the puncture point (3.28±1.52 vs 10.42±2.57 mL)

and the occurrences of PICCinduced mechanical phlebitis (3.33% vs 11.11%) and upperextremity deep vein thrombosis (11.11% vs 26.67%) than the control group (all P0.05). Conclusion      Automatic pumping of normal saline is superior to manual injection in stability

accuracy and lower incidences of complications in the guidance of intracavitary electrocardiography via Groshong PICC. So it is more suitable for the positioning of Groshong PICC catheter tip.