Central Venous Catheters What is a central venous catheter? A
central venous catheter, also called a central line, is a long,
thin, flexible tube used to give medicines, fluids, nutrients,
or blood products over a long period of time, usually several
weeks or more. A catheter is often inserted in the arm or chest
through the skin into a large vein. The catheter is threaded
through this vein until it reaches a large vein near the heart.
A catheter may be inserted into the neck if it will be used only
during a hospital stay. What is a central venous catheter used
for? Central venous catheters are used to: - Give long-term
medicine treatment for pain, infection, or cancer, or to supply
nutrition. A central venous catheter can be left in place far
longer than an Reference intravenous Opens New Window catheter
(IV), which gives medicines into a vein near the skin surface. -
Give medicines that affect the heart, especially if a quick
response to the medicine is wanted. - Give large amounts of
blood or fluid quickly