Central venous catheter
Updates to Article Attributes
Body
was changed:
Central venous catheters (CVC) or lines (CVL) refer to a wide range of central venous access devices but can broadly be divided into four categories. They may be inserted by physiciansmedical, surgeons or radiologistssurgical, anaesthetic/ITU, or radiology specialists.
Classification
- peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC)
- non-tunnelled CVCs
- e.g. used in ICU or ED for emergent or short-term (<7-10 days) access
- e.g. Vascath used for haemodialysis, apheresis, stem cell collection, etc
- tunnelled CVCs
- e.g. Hickman catheters, Broviac line, Permcath
- implantable ports
- e.g. Port-a-Cath, Infus-a-Port
- may be located in the chest or arm (brachial)
- may be single or dual lumen
Site
Central venous catheters can be inserted into a variety of veins, most commonly including:
- internal jugular vein (see: jugular venous catheters)
- subclavian vein
- femoral vein (typically only short-term access)
- brachial, basilic or cephalic veins (for PICCs and implantable ports)
Placement
Policy varies by institution but tip placement for neck / thoracic / upper limb CVCs in the superior vena cava or at the cavo-atrial junction is generally acceptable. There is a limited differential of left paramediastinal catheter positions.
Complications
- pneumothorax
- haemothorax
- arrhythmia
- infection
- mediastinal haematoma
- infusothorax
- arterial placement
- perforation of vein needing a stent
- pinch off syndrome
- retained guidewire
- guidewire shearing and fragment embolisation
-<p><strong>Central venous catheters</strong> (<strong>CVC</strong>) or <strong>lines</strong> (<strong>CVL</strong>) refer to a wide range of central venous access devices but can broadly be divided into four categories. They may be inserted by physicians, surgeons or radiologists.</p><h4>Classification</h4><ul>- +<p><strong>Central venous catheters</strong> (<strong>CVC</strong>) or <strong>lines</strong> (<strong>CVL</strong>) refer to a wide range of central venous access devices but can broadly be divided into four categories. They may be inserted by medical, surgical, anaesthetic/ITU, or radiology specialists.</p><h4>Classification</h4><ul>
-<a title="brachial vein" href="/articles/brachial-vein">brachial</a>, <a title="Basilic vein" href="/articles/basilic-vein-1">basilic</a> or <a title="Cephalic vein" href="/articles/cephalic-vein-1">cephalic veins</a> (for PICCs and implantable ports)</li>- +<a href="/articles/brachial-vein">brachial</a>, <a href="/articles/basilic-vein-1">basilic</a> or <a href="/articles/cephalic-vein-1">cephalic veins</a> (for PICCs and implantable ports)</li>