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VASCULAR ACCESS
Tunneled Central Venous Catheters
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A central venous catheter can be used to deliver necessary medications or to draw blood samples. It is a small catheter that has its tip placed into the large central vein (the superior vena cava). The radiologist accesses a large vein in the neck (the internal jugular vein) under local anesthesia and using ultrasound guidance, and passes the catheter into the central vein.
Many of the medications that are commonly delivered can irritate the lining of the veins. This can cause permanent narrowing or clotting of veins. Therefore the catheter is placed centrally into a large vein where the medication can be diluted. This will decrease or eliminate the chances of the vein from clotting around the catheter.
Tunneled catheters have a section that travels under the skin before going into the vein. This section also contains a cuff to help hold it in place by allowing the surrounding tissue to grow in and secure the catheter. Since part of the catheter is tunneled under the skin, the rate of infection caused by the catheter is lower. A tunneled catheter is different from a PICC line. It can stay in the body longer and has lower risk of infection than PICC lines.
Key Advantages:
- Eliminates the irritation of the vein lining, reduces risk of vein narrowing and/or occlusion
- Reduces the risk of infection
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