Understanding Central Venous Catheters and Their Uses
What is a Central Venous Catheter?
A central venous catheter, also known as a central line, is a long, thin, flexible tube placed into a large vein in the neck, chest, or groin to administer medication or fluids, obtain blood samples, and measure central venous pressure. Central venous catheters allow access to the central circulation for critically ill patients who require extended intravenous therapy or frequent blood draws.
Types of Central Venous Catheters
There are a few common types of central venous catheters:
Non-Tunneled Catheters
Non-tunneled catheters are inserted through the skin directly into a large central vein without involving a subcutaneous tunnel. They are usually intended for short-term use of less than 6 weeks. The tip of a non-tunneled catheter resides within the superior vena cava or right atrium.
Tunneled Catheters
Tunneled Central venous catheters are characterized by having a portion of the catheter buried under the skin between the insertion site and the venous access site, reducing the risk of infection. This allows for longer term use of 6 weeks to 12 months. Examples include tunneled dual or triple lumen catheters.
Implanted Ports
An implanted port or port-a-cath is completely implanted just under the skin with a septum that can be punctured from outside using a Huber needle to access the port chamber and catheter tip within a central vein. Ports last even longer, from 6 months to years.
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