Hi Joe,

PIC lines or Port-a-caths are designed for long term use, and are the ideal way to go if you have poor venous access. Here in Australia they are inserted in hospital (often under sedation or a light anaesthetic), and Pic lines are inserted in one or the other arm, whereas the classification that I know as Port-a-Cath, is usually inserted onto the chest wall.

Both can be accessed for blood sampling or the administration of medications, but both require a sterile technique when access is attempted, to prevent major systemic infection.

Until recently I worked as a Registered Nurse, and was trained to administer Chemotherapy. Chemo patients tend to have poor veins due to the many, many times their veins are accessed. MS patients can sometimes fall into a similar category as far as access goes with multiple infusions of Methyly Pred, Chemo and now Ty, not to mention the never ending blood tests.

Discuss it with your doctor, and good luck with what ever decision you make.