VASCULAR TUNNELED CENTRAL CATHETER ACCESS

Course overview

IN CONTRAST TO NON-TUNNELED CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETERS (CVCS), SUBCUTANEOUSLY TUNNELED CVCS TRAVEL UNDER THE SKIN, AWAY FROM THE POINT OF VENOUS ENTRY, BEFORE EXITING THE SKIN. TUNNELED CVCS PROVIDE LONG-TERM INTRAVENOUS ACCESS FOR PARENTERAL NUTRITION, FLUID RESUSCITATION, ANTIBIOTICS, CHEMOTHERAPY, AND HEMODIALYSIS. PLACEMENT OF TUNNELED CATHETERS ALLOWS PATIENTS TO CONTINUE INTRAVENOUS THERAPY UPON THEIR DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL. THIS ACTIVITY SUMMARIZES THE INDICATIONS AND CONTRAINDICATIONS FOR TUNNELED CVCS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN PATIENT MANAGEMENT.