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A central venous catheter (CVC) is a vascular access device inserted into a large central vein (commonly the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein) with the tip positioned in the superior vena cava (SVC), cavoatrial junction, or right atrium.

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It is used for hemodynamic monitoring, administration of medications, parenteral nutrition, and renal replacement therapies.

Indications

• Poor or exhausted peripheral venous access
• Administration of irritant/vesicant drugs (chemotherapy, vasopressors)
• Total parenteral nutrition (TPN)
• Frequent blood sampling or transfusion
• Hemodialysis / plasmapheresis
• Central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring

Types

1. Nontunneled CVCs – bedside placement, short-term (days–weeks).
2. Tunneled catheters – placed in IR/surgical suite, longer-term (weeks–months, sometimes years).
3. Implantable ports – long-term venous access for chemotherapy/TPN.
4. Peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs) – via basilic/cephalic vein, tip in SVC, for intermediate- to long-term use.

![Central venous hemodialysis catheter and its antimicrobial agent-coated cap

Hymes JL, Mooney A, Van Zandt C, Lynch L, Ziebol R, Killion D. Dialysis catheter–related bloodstream infections: a cluster-randomized trial of the ClearGuard HD antimicrobial barrier cap. Am J Kidney Dis. 2017; 69: 220-227. Elif Balikci, Yilmaz B, Aydin Tahmasebifar, Baran ET, Kara E. Surface modification strategies for hemodialysis catheters to prevent catheter‐related infections: A review. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials. 2020;109(3):314-327. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.34701](attachment:9de7111b-8809-4ab3-aae7-a0afc5e4321f:image.png)

Central venous hemodialysis catheter and its antimicrobial agent-coated cap

Hymes JL, Mooney A, Van Zandt C, Lynch L, Ziebol R, Killion D. Dialysis catheter–related bloodstream infections: a cluster-randomized trial of the ClearGuard HD antimicrobial barrier cap. Am J Kidney Dis. 2017; 69: 220-227. Elif Balikci, Yilmaz B, Aydin Tahmasebifar, Baran ET, Kara E. Surface modification strategies for hemodialysis catheters to prevent catheter‐related infections: A review. Journal of Biomedical Materials Research Part B Applied Biomaterials. 2020;109(3):314-327. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/jbm.b.34701

Optimal Tip Position (Radiology)

• Central venous pressure catheter: tip between medial end of 1st rib and SVC or at the cavoatrial junction