Central Venous Catheter Flashcards, test questions and answers

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What is Central Venous Catheter?

A central venous catheter, also known as a central line, is a medical device used to administer medications or fluids into a patient’s body. It is typically inserted into the subclavian vein in the neck or chest and threaded through the body to reach its destination. Central lines are most commonly used for long-term treatments such as chemotherapy, antibiotics and parenteral nutrition. They can also be used for short-term treatments that require frequent monitoring of medication levels in the blood stream. Central lines are commonly used for patients who cannot take oral medications or have difficulty with intravenous (IV) access. They offer several advantages over traditional IV access including fewer needle sticks, reduced risk of infection and improved comfort. They also allow healthcare providers to administer more specialized treatments such as chemotherapy drugs that would otherwise require multiple IV insertions per day. Despite these benefits, there are certain risks associated with central venous catheters including infection and thrombosis (blood clots). Careful attention must be paid to technique when inserting a central line in order to reduce these risks. Healthcare providers must also monitor their patients closely while they have a central line in place to ensure that any complications are caught early on before they become serious. In summary, central venous catheters offer many advantages in terms of convenience and comfort for patients receiving long-term treatment regimens but come with some risks that must be carefully monitored by healthcare providers during use.