Flying With a PICC (Central Line)
 

After a rather harrowing week in the hospital, my parents are flying back north and my father is now sporting a PICC, which is a central line which runs from the inside of the arm up through the artery to just above the heart.

A small portion of the line protrudes out from the skin (like an IV) where infusion medication can be connected.

The line is subject to infection if not cared for properly, so I will likely be covering it with a tensor bandage to keep out airborne germs from coughing, sneezing, etc, or splatter if he should get wet.

Whether by patdown or radiation box, it's going to show up and I'm going to be at the airport with my parents and my refundable ticket boarding pass to get them through security and I'd like to avoid a blowup incident because I honestly will have no hesitation to kick a screener in the head and go to jail if they do anything to place my father at risk - I've already been through enough this week.

So, with this in mind, I would like to know if anyone else has been through a checkpoint recently with a similar medical issue. Basically the line cannot be touched and I will not allow the tensor bandage to be removed. I'm not looking for a conflict, but with our nerves frayed and our protective posture, we want to get through the check as quickly as possible without anything happening that could escalate.

I'm not sure if PBI has the radiation boxes at the B concourse, but I'll assume they do and we're going to end up with a situation that needs to be resolved if the line is detected, so I want to be clear about the limits I can place on the screening process so the line is not disturbed or touched in any way. If that airport/concourse is still using just the WTMD, then I would breath a sigh of relief, as we'd likely avoid any issues.

Any advise?

If I were in your situation I'd get a written statement from the hospital and doctor on their letterhead about it and have a couple originals available to give to the TSA screener.

Also have a phone number where you and/or TSA folks can call and talk to the hospital and/or doctor, hopefully an non "exchange" number.

In addition if the doctor puts a large bandage on it thats not easily pulled off (docs usually put big bandages; in this case, probably a good thing :D) there would be less likelihood of the TSA messing with it.

How soon are your folks going back home?

How long does that line have to stay in there; any possibility of them staying near you till it comes out? Then no worry about it showing up on the scanner or at a patdown.

Could your folks stay till things are more settled, then you and them take the train back north?

Just wondering about the timeframe; sometimes the way to deal with a larger "opponent" is to move to the side and go around him without a head-to-head confrontation.

Hope this helps

That's probably what we'll do - ask for a written statement the line cannot be touched under doctor's orders. There is no way they can delay the trip back and the line will be in for 2-3 more weeks. Train is not an option.

Hi BocaStephen,

Just inform the TSA that this is an internal medication line (btw, they are radio-opaque and will show up on Xray) that cannot be contaminated and that the dressing must and will stay in place.

I find simple and to the point works best. Don't give them any option to come up with some hare-brained idea on how to clear it.

Medical letters usually aren't worth the paper they're printed on because the TSA agents either (a) don't believe them, (b) don't understand them or (c) choose to ignore them.

If they attempt to remove the dressing, you have my medical blessing to dock the idiot who tries. :D

PM if you have any other questions. :)

I've personally dealt with picc lines for both chemo and iv antibiotics about 6 years ago and I can tell you from personal experience you are quite correct in not wanting anyone near it. Piccs can be a pita and even too much movement of the line can cause problems(i had one pulled out) Have you
considered a tegaderm bandage? I was very
well stocked with these for purposes of travel, showering etc. etc. I had a one holding my line in place, then when I had to be out I had another covering the opening of the picc protecting against the types of things you mention. Tegaderms are clear plastic and used by many hospitals for piccs. Security can see clearly through them so there would be no "logical" reason why anyone would have to disturb anything( cant of course say you'll be dealing with logic but this would seemingly minimize problem potential !). Here in Canada one can purchase them at many regular drug stores, and I would think the same would be the case in the U.S.
Also rather than the tensor I had a net sleeve over the tegaderm to prevent movement...The hospital I was dealing with provided these for me and they would be far more comfortable than a tensor would be for your dad. I would think that as long as you have a tegaderm type dressing over the picc you wouldnt need bulkiness of a tensor from a personal comfort perspective.

They don't care about any letter from some doctor. @:-)

tegaderm or op-site, both proprietary brand clear plastic 'skin' like adhesive dressings will allow the ......... to view the line without the risk of contamination.

I am well aware the TSA doesn't give a rat's patootie about letters from MDs, but I'd rather have the letter on me and attempt to give it to the TSA employee for legal purposes. If this goes south in a hurry, I'd rather have it on video that I tried to show the letter and they didn't listen or care, and be able to complain, and perhaps later testify, to that fact. Just my .02.

If you know a friendly media reporter or lawyer, it wouldn't hurt to buy them a refundable ticket to accompany you....

Good idea.

There are also those who would advise you to call the TSA at the airport ahead of time and make arrangements to get your father through security. But we all know how well that worked with the applesauce lady.

Best wishes to your father - you're a good son.

I am glad your father is on the mend Bocastephen, and very sorry you all have had a harrowing week.

The Tegaderm or OpSite, both clear dressing covers, are good ideas if your father's doctor agrees they are suitable. That way the screener can see that the PICC line is basically an intravenous line for medication, not an explosive device. The line and the dressing absolutely must not be touched by any amateur inspector, as it should be handled only by those with clean hands, sterile gloves (nb - sterile, not "clean") and proper medical training.

One poster here on other threads has reported success by calling the airport in advance of the flight and arranging with TSA to have a senior manager aware of the situation and available to assist. With advance notice, such an individual might at least take your doctor's letter seriously, and prevent an ill-trained checkpoint screener from contaminating your father's PICC line.

I think the best approach if you cannot afford a delayed departure or a train trip instead is to leave plenty of time at the airport so that if necessary you can call for the FSD, the airline's GSC, law enforcement, or anyone else you might need to help you stand your ground against dirty hands touching the PICC line and its dressing. Improper care truly could be a life or death situation by introducing bacteria into the bloodstream.

Safe travels, we will be hoping for the best for your dad.

Nor should they, in my opinion. Since there's no way to verify such, they can't be used to avoid screening. And if their only purpose is to request an alternate screening method, they shouldn't be necessary: anybody should be able to request that, without having to give a reason, much less show a letter.

Here's what I would do:

First, assuming you and/your parents are US Citizens, *relax* - the system will work for you. There will be no need for you to assault a screener.

Second, find out what steps you need to go through in order to have your Congressman and your two US Senators make inquiries on your behalf. If your parents are registered voters "up north", do the same for their Representative and two Senators. (One of Senators has a privacy waiver form that has to be filled out before his staff will do any constituent services -- if your Representative and Senators have similar requirements, you want to take care of those requirements right now.)

Second, call the FSD at the airport, well in advance of the flight, and explain the problem to him/her and ask what you need to do to get them through the checkpoint. Insist on talking directly with the FSD.

Next, contact your Senators and Representatives *before* the flight. If your parents have different representatives, have your parents contact them. As I see it, three could be three possible conversations you are having:

1. The FSD refused to take your call and/or did not call you back. Complain to your representatives about this.
2. The FSD is a jerk and doesn't take your concerns seriously. Complain to your representatives about this.
3. The FSD tells you what needs to be done to ensure a smooth screening. If this actually happens, then you still need to contact your representatives. In your contacts with your reps, document what the FSD told you and say that because of your past experiences with TSA you are worried that the TSA won't actually do what the FSD says they will. Also mention to them that you cannot believe that you actually have to bother contacting the reps with this issue.

When you actually get to the airport, carry a small pencil and pad. Document the names and badge numbers of any screeners who give you any problems, no matter how small -- if they are rude, complain. If they touch you without first telling you they are going to touch you, complain. Submit these complaints after you clear the checkpoint - I frequently do this while still at the airport, before boarding the flight.

If screeners start to screw with his medical devices, stop the screening, and demand law enforcement officers. Explain that you had contacted the FSD in advance and that his/her employees were not doing what the FSD promised. Insist that they prepare a written police report. Also, get on the phone and call the representatives from the airport.

In short, be prepared to make a federal case out of it.

Thank you - I'm going to ask the hospital for some to take along - perhaps that's the best approach.

+1 on the tegaderm bandage. My husband had a picc several years back, and the tegaderm was a great way to keep airflow but also keep it sterile.

Best wishes to you, and swift healing to your father.