A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is a long hollow tube that is inserted into one of the large veins your arm. One end of the tube sits in a vein (usually just above the heart) and the other end comes out from underneath the skin in your arm. The catheters are usually recommended for patients who need certain types of medicines or treatments that are irritant or damaging to smaller veins; or whom need injections over a long period of time. Insertion of the catheter requires a sterile operation, which is usually performed under local anaesthetic. More information on PICC’s is given in the further information section below.