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What is a Central Venous Catheter?
What is a Central Venous Catheter?
A central venous catheter (CVC) provides life-saving treatment in many medical situations.central venous catheter It allows a health care provider to give fluids and medications through a tube that goes directly into your vein. CVCs also allow providers to perform treatments such as dialysis or plasmapheresis and to monitor your condition.
Before the procedure, your health care team will explain how a CVC works and how to care for it at home.central venous catheter They will also tell you how long you need to keep the catheter in place, based on your medical needs and the purpose of the catheter.
The main complication of a central line is infection. This is called a catheter-related bloodstream infection (CRBSI). It can happen during the CVC placement or later in your daily life. Your risk is higher if the tip of the catheter is outside your body, such as with non-tunneled CVCs and PICC lines. Your risk is lower with tunneled CVCs and ports.
Your health care team will choose a spot in your neck or chest to place the catheter. The most common location is your internal jugular vein, although the subclavian or femoral veins can also be used. You might be able to have the procedure done using dynamic ultrasound visualization, which helps your health care provider see where the catheter is going. This is especially helpful for patients who have difficulty lying still or whose landmarks are obscured, such as the morbidly obese.
After your health care provider makes a small incision in your skin, they insert a thin tube (catheter) into the vein. It is then guided into your superior vena cava with fluoroscopy. In some hospitals, you can have the procedure done with a small needle instead of a larger incision. This type of CVC is called a tunneled central catheter, or Broviac(r), Hickman(r) or Groshong(r) catheter.
A CVC can be used for longer than a peripheral IV and helps prevent complications such as needle stick injuries or bleeding at the IV site. It can be used for up to two weeks or more. Your health care provider will flush it regularly with a sterile solution to remove bacteria and keep the catheter clean.
CVCs can also be used to deliver chemotherapy, fluids and other treatments for cancer or certain infections, as well as to measure your heart rate or blood pressure. They are also helpful for patients with a low platelet count, who may be at risk of developing clots in their arms or legs.
If you have a chronic condition, such as chronic renal failure, a central line might be an option for long-term treatment at home. Ask your health care provider about what types of CVCs are available and which might be best for you. They will talk about the benefits and risks of each type. They will also discuss how long you might need to have the catheter in place and how to care for it at home.
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