Central Venous Catheter
The IV route gets the drug quickly throughout the body. IV therapy may be given through a vein in the arm or hand or through a central venous catheter (CVC), which is a catheter implanted into a larger vein in the chest, neck, or arm. There are different types of CVCs with different types of catheters and implantable ports. CVCs are used for these reasons:
- to give several drugs at one time
- for long-term therapy (to reduce the number of needle sticks)
- for continuous infusion chemotherapy
- to give drugs that can cause serious damage to skin and muscle tissue if they leak outside of a vein (drugs that are vesicants).
The type of CVC used is based on how long you will be getting treatment, the length of administration time of the chemotherapy, your preference, your doctor's preference, the care required to maintain the CVC, and its cost.
| Type of Device | Comments |
|---|---|
| PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) | Placed in a vein in the arm and threaded up near the heart. An intermediate-term catheter which allows for continuous access to peripheral vein for several weeks to months. No surgery needed. Care of catheter needed. |
| TCVC (Tunneled Central Venous Catheter) (Hickman) |
Catheter can have multiple lumens (openings). Surgically placed in large central vein in the chest. The catheter is tunneled under the skin, but the lumens remain outside the body. This is a long-term catheter that is good for months to years. Site care of external catheter and regular flushing is needed. |
| Implantable Venous Access Port (Port-A-Cath) |
A port of plastic, stainless steel, or titanium with a silicone septum. This drum-shaped device is surgically placed under the skin of the chest or upper arm. The catheter extends into a large or central vein. The port is accessed by a non-coring needle to give chemotherapy. It is intended for long-term use. No routine care is needed when not in use. |
| Implantable pump | A titanium pump with an internal power source surgically implanted to give continuous infusion chemotherapy, usually at home. There is a refillable reservoir for continuous infusions. |