Venous Catheters in the Center: Function, Varieties, Procedure, and Further Insights
Central venous catheters (CVCs) are medical devices that play a crucial role in administering medications, fluids, blood products, or nutrition directly into a major vein. In hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient settings, medical professionals insert CVCs in the United States every year, with around 8% of people in hospitals requiring central venous access.
Types of Central Venous Catheters
Implanted Ports (Implantable Ports)
These small, implantable devices are placed under the skin, typically in the chest. They have a reservoir that connects to a catheter, which is inserted into a vein. Implanted ports are commonly used for long-term administration of medications, such as chemotherapy, and for drawing blood samples. Infection, catheter fracture or migration, thrombosis (blood clots), and damage to blood vessels or organs are potential risks associated with implanted ports.
Tunneled Catheters
Tunneled catheters are inserted into a vein through the skin and passed under the skin to help reduce the risk of infection. They are used for patients requiring long-term access to a vein for medication administration or blood sampling. The risks associated with tunneled catheters include infection, thrombosis, and mechanical complications like catheter breakage or dislodgment.
Non-Tunneled Catheters
Non-tunneled catheters are inserted directly into a vein without passing under the skin. They are typically used for short-term access, such as during hospital stays for acute conditions. The higher risk of infection compared to tunneled catheters, thrombosis, and mechanical complications are the associated risks.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC Lines)
PICC lines are catheters inserted through a vein in the arm and guided to a large vein near the heart. They are used for patients requiring medium to long-term intravenous therapy but not needing immediate access to a central vein. Infection, thrombosis, and mechanical issues such as catheter breakage or dislodgment are the risks associated with PICC lines.
General Risks and Precautions
All types of central lines carry a risk of infection, which can be severe or life-threatening. Blood clots can form, potentially leading to serious health issues like stroke or pulmonary embolism. Issues such as catheter breakage, migration, or dislodgment can occur, sometimes requiring surgical intervention. In rare cases, catheters can puncture or damage organs, leading to severe complications.
To mitigate these risks, strict infection control practices are essential, and patients should be monitored closely for any signs of complications.
Central venous catheters are essential for individuals who need medications that could cause phlebitis (inflammation) or hardening (sclerosis). They help prevent damage to peripheral veins and can accommodate large amounts of fluids and medications that might not go through regular IVs, staying in place for weeks to months. Additionally, CVCs can be used to provide nutrition and conduct certain medical tests.
- Implanted ports, often used for long-term administration of medications like chemotherapy, are prone to risks such as infection, catheter fracture or migration, thrombosis (blood clots), and damage to blood vessels or organs.
- In hospitals, long-term care facilities, and outpatient settings, medical professionals choose from various types of central venous catheters, including tunneled catheters, non-tunneled catheters, and Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC lines), to manage health-and-wellness conditions such as cancer and provide therapies-and-treatments like chemotherapy.
- Science continues to advance in the field of medical-conditions, including the development of central venous catheters, ensuring these devices can be effectively used for administering medications, fluids, blood products, or nutrition, with reduced risks of complications like infection and thrombosis, contributing to improved health-and-wellness outcomes for patients.
