A catheter (tube) that is passed through a vein to end up
in the thoracic (chest) portion of the vena cava (the large vein returning blood
to the heart) or in the right atrium of the heart.
Central lines have a number of different uses. A central line allows concentrated
solutions to be infused with less risk of complications. It permits monitoring of
special blood pressures including the central venous pressure, the pulmonary artery
pressure, and the pulmonary capillary wedge pressures. The central line can be used
for the estimation of cardiac output and vascular resistance. The near end of the
catheter may also be connected to a chamber for injections given over periods of
months. A central line saves having to have frequent small injections or "drips"
placed in the arms. A central line may also allow a patient to have medicine or
fluids at home instead of in the hospital.
The central line may be inserted for the short term or long term. There are two
types of long term central lines: the cuffed or tunnelled line and the reservoir
long line that ends in a rubber bulb or reservoir.
The possible complications of a central line include air in the chest (pneumothorax)
due to a punctured lung, bleeding in the chest (hemothorax), fluid in the chest
(hydrothorax), ble4eding into or under the skin (hematoma) and infection. If the
line becomes disconnected, air may enter the blood and cause problems with breathing
or a stroke.
A central line is also called a central venous line or a central venous catheter
(CVC).
medical
dictionary, online medical dictionary, medical
terminology dictionary, free online medical
dictionary, medical dictionary, online medical
dictionary, medical terminology dictionary, free
online medical dictionary, dictionary medical,
dictionary medical online, dictionary medical
terminology, dictionary free medical online,
dictionary free medical, dictionary medical
terms, dictionary drug medical medicine,
dictionary health illustrated medical nursing
profession stedmans, dictionary English medical,
dictionary medical online terminology,
dictionary encyclopedia medical online,
condition dictionary medical, dictionary
medical, dictionary drug medical, medical
dictionary software, cyclopedic dictionary index
medical tabers thumb, medical dictionary, online
medical dictionary, medical terminology
dictionary
