Treatment Overview
A central venous catheter, also called a
central line, is used to take blood and give chemotherapy and other drugs
during treatment for cancer. It is inserted under your skin, usually in the
large blood vessels in your chest, and left there during your treatment.
The catheter is made of flexible silicone rubber. During surgery the
catheter is attached to your skin with stitches. It has a Dacron cuff near the
skin opening that helps it stay in place and prevents bacteria from traveling
up the catheter line. The catheter may have one, two, or three openings, called
lumens, at the tip. Doctors and nurses insert needles into those tips when they
need to draw blood or give you drugs or other kinds of treatment. Having the
catheter means they do not have to stick needles into your skin every
time.
What To Expect After Treatment
You may feel some discomfort after the
catheter is inserted, but there are medicines to take care of that. The
discomfort is temporary. You will learn how to take care of the catheter at
home.
Before the surgery, you will be given a
local anesthetic
and other drugs to help you relax.
This may make you drowsy, so you should not drive or operate machinery for 24
hours after the procedure.
After the catheter is inserted, your
doctor will order
X-rays
to make sure the catheter is in the right spot.
You will not have to stay in the hospital after your catheter is
inserted unless you are to receive high-dose
chemotherapy
as part of your treatment plan.
Why It Is Done
A central venous catheter is used to
prevent the numerous needle sticks that would be needed during treatment for
many types of cancer, especially
leukemia
and
lymphoma
. Also, chemotherapy can be hard on the small
veins in the hands and arms. A central venous catheter delivers chemotherapy to
the larger veins that can handle the drugs better than small veins.
How Well It Works
A central venous catheter
successfully prevents the need for numerous needle sticks during treatment for
many types of cancer, especially leukemia and lymphoma. Blood can be drawn from
the catheter, and it can be used to give drugs, fluids, and blood or blood
products.
Risks
Most people do not have any problems with their
central venous catheters. If problems do develop, they can include the
following:
- Infection can occur at the exit site. Infection
can also travel up into the catheter when you flush it or receive medicine
through it. There are things you can do to avoid an infection.
- Keep the exit site clean and dry. Call your
doctor if you see redness, tenderness, or any pus draining.
- Wash
your hands every time you flush the catheter or change the
dressing.
- Call your doctor if you develop a fever or chills.
- A blood clot may block the catheter. This may
make it impossible to draw blood from the catheter or receive drugs through it.
Flushing your catheter regularly will prevent this.
- A blood clot
may form at the end of the catheter and block blood flow through the vein
(thrombosis). This may cause pain or swelling in your neck, face, chest, or
arm. If you experience these symptoms, call your doctor
immediately.
- The catheter may break. This does not happen very
often, but it can occur. Use your catheter clamp to clamp the catheter close to
your skin. Call your doctor for additional instructions. Do not panic. Broken
catheters can often be repaired.
- An air bubble can form and block your vein if the clamp has not
been replaced and the cap is removed from the catheter. You may feel short of
breath or begin to cough if this happens. If you have these symptoms, call your
doctor immediately for additional instructions. Do not panic.
