Which Clinicians Can Place Lines, Draw Blood, Or Conduct Other Invasive Procedures

Central Lines (Primal Venous Catheters)

What Are Central Lines?

A fundamental line (or primal venous catheter) is like an intravenous (4) line. But information technology is much longer than a regular IV and goes all the way upwards to a vein near the heart or just inside the heart.

A patient can get medicine, fluids, claret, or nutrition through a cardinal line. It also tin can exist used to draw blood.

What Are the Types of Central Lines?

Usually used central lines include:

implanted ports
tunneled central lines (likewise called external central lines)
PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) lines

When Are Central Lines Used Instead of Regular Four Lines?

Doctors might use a central line instead of a regular IV line because:

It tin can stay in place longer (upward to a year or even more than).
It makes it easier to depict claret.
Patients can get large amounts of fluids or medicines (like chemotherapy) that might not go through regular IVs.

Doctors may place a central line for someone who:

has a serious infection so they can get Four for a few weeks
has cancer so they can get chemotherapy and blood tests through the line
needs IV nutrition
will need many blood transfusions

Are There Risks to a Central Line?

Most of the time, cardinal lines exercise non crusade any problems. If problems do happen, it is usually because the line gets infected or stops working. Very rarely, a cardinal line can cause a claret clot. Doctors review the risks with families before placing the central line.

How Can Parents Assistance?

If your child has a central line, you tin assist care for it to prevent infection and proceed it working well. It'southward normal to experience a little bit nervous caring for the central line at start, but soon yous'll feel more comfortable. You'll get supplies to use at home, and a visiting nurse may come to help yous when you first get home.

Before your child goes home from having the central line placed, ask your health care squad:

how often to alter the dressing
when and how to flush the line
what to practice if the line gets blocked or comes out
how to requite medicines through the central line (if you will be giving medicines at home)
if the line has caps, how oftentimes to change them
which physical activities are OK for your child (most kids need to avoid rough play and contact sports)
if whatever special care is needed to protect the central line while your child bathes
what signs of infection to spotter for

Tell your kid'south teachers, school nurse, advisor, and physical instruction teacher about the central line. They tin can brand sure your child avoids whatsoever activities that may damage the line, and aid support your child during treatment.

Appointment reviewed: January 2022