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Central venous catheter placement
CENTRAL LINE PLACEMENT OR CENTRAL VENOUS CATHETER
A tube used to administer treatments such as antibiotics, chemotherapy, food supplements and blood transfusions
Why would a central venous line be inserted?
A central venous catheter is a tube that allows your consultant to give you treatment directly into your vein. Having a central venous catheter inserted will enable you to receive treatment quickly in an emergency and means you can have treatment without the need for an injection each time.
There are different types of tubes including Hickman lines and PICC lines. a venous catheter procedure is usually done whilst you are are staying as an inpatient, but can also be done as on an outpatient basis.
Need to know
The insertion of the line takes place in radiology, where you will need to lie on your back on an X-ray table. Your radiologist will clean the skin on your neck and chest with antiseptic and cover it with a sterile pad. They will inject a local anaesthetic.
Your radiologist will use ultrasound or X-rays to decide on the best location to insert your central venous catheter. They will make a cut in the skin near the base of your neck. Your radiologist will then insert the central venous catheter through this cut into a large vein in your neck, towards your heart. They will put stitches in your skin to hold the catheter in place and place a waterproof dressing over it. The procedure usually takes around an hour.
Let your consultant know if you are taking any medications, particularly blood thinning drugs, and if you have any allergies. You may need to have a blood test to check that your blood clots normally. You can eat a light meal before your procedure.
You will return to your ward to recover, which can take up to an hour. The central venous catheter will be ready to use immediately. If you need to have treatment through the central venous catheter for a long period of time, you may be discharged from hospital with it still in place.
You will need to keep the dressing clean and dry, and always wash your hands with soap and water before you touch the catheter. You may need to come into hospital every week to have your dressing changed and to flush out the line.
Paying for medical treatment
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The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David's gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.