You may have been told
that you or your loved one will need to have a central venous catheter called a
CVC. The purpose of this program is to teach you how to safely care for
the catheter. This video is a supplement to any information you may receive from
the Infusion Therapy Team. Before we begin the
training demonstration, let's take a look at the different types of CVCs and talk about what they
are used for. The central venous catheter is a small tube placed in a vein and
then threaded down into the largest vein in your body. The CVC usually can be
inserted into 1 of 3 locations. The PICC catheter is
inserted into a vein in the arm. The subclavian catheter is inserted
under the collar bone. The femoral catheter is inserted into the groin. Your doctor will decide
which type is best for you. Regardless of which type
you have, it will be made of the following parts: the catheter, winged hub,
catheter extension, the clamp and injection cap. CVCs generally come with 1, 2
or 3 extensions depending on the type of treatment you will have. As long as there are no
problems, the catheter can stay in place for the duration of the
treatment. The CVC can be used for receiving different types of IV treatments
including chemotherapy, blood transfusions, fluids and IV nutrition. The advantage of having
a CVC is that it can be used repeatedly instead of having an IV inserted every
time you needed treatment or procedure. Also, many chemotherapy
treatments are required to be given through a CVC and can not be given through
a regular small IV. However, there may be times in the course of your treatment that a
small, temporary IV still will need to be inserted in your arm. There are 3 parts to the
care of your CVC: the weekly injection cap change, the flush injection to keep
your CVC open usually given daily, and the CVC sterile dressing change.
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