Central Line
Alternate Names : Central Venous Catheter, CVP Line
A central line is a special intravenous line, called an IV. This type of IV
is inserted through the chest and threaded into one of the large veins that lie close to
the heart. A central line has multiple ports that can be used to:
draw blood
give fluids
monitor central venous blood pressure
Who is a candidate for the procedure?
A central line is used for:
gaining emergency IV access when the usual IV access into an arm vein is not
possible
monitoring central venous pressure during major surgery or after severe blood loss from trauma or illness
giving fluids, blood products, chemotherapy
, and other medicines, as well as for hyperalimentation
drawing blood samples
administering long-term IV therapy
How is the procedure performed?
A central line is inserted under sterile conditions. The person is usually
placed in the Trendelenburg position, which means the head is below the level of the
heart. The skin is cleansed, and a local anesthetic
is injected to make the area numb. A healthcare professional advances the line until it
reaches the large vein of the chest. The catheter is then sutured
in place, and a sterile dressing is applied.
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