Central Venous Catheter Management

What is a central venous catheter?

What is a central
venous catheter?
Why Caring for Your
Central Venous
Catheter Is Essential

What is a central venous catheter?

A central venous catheter is a tube that is inserted through a vein to reach the large blood vessels near the heart, such as the Hickman catheter (which is inserted via the subclavian vein or the jugular vein in the neck) and the implantable port (which is implanted under the skin). Once inserted and properly maintained, it can be used for an extended period. It eliminates the need for separate venous access with each treatment, thus facilitating the safe administration of repeated chemotherapy, blood sampling, transfusions, and the infusion of high-concentration nutrients.

Hickman Catheter Overview Image — ▲ Hickman Catheter

Implantable Port Overview Image — ▲ Implantable Port

Why is the management of central venous catheters necessary?

Complications that can arise from the use of central venous catheters include infection at the insertion site and catheter occlusion. If the insertion site becomes infected, it can progress to subcutaneous tunnel infections or systemic infection; therefore, regular disinfection is required to prevent this. Additionally, when the central venous catheter is not in use, blood can coagulate inside the catheter leading to occlusion. To prevent this, an anticoagulant such as heparin must be periodically infused.