ICU learning pathway | Central Venous and Pulmonary Artery Catheters

Central Venous and Pulmonary Artery Catheters
Session overview
Description
Central venous catheters are widely used in various clinical settings. This session describes the indications for their use, their types, sites of insertion, techniques employed in their insertion, benefits and risks associated with their use. The pulmonary artery flotation catheter is also described.

By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Recognize the indications for the use of central venous catheters
• Describe the different types of central venous catheters
• Discuss the techniques used in insertion and the sites used for insertion
• Explain the immediate and late complications that may arise with central venous cannulation
• Describe the use of ultrasound guidance during insertion of central venous catheters
• Describe the use of pulmonary artery flotation catheters

This session begins with an examination of the indications for central venous access and continues by considering the different types of catheters.The difficulties of insertion and the preparation required are then discussed.

There are a number of insertion sites at the practitioner’s disposal, the most common routes being the:

• Subclavian
• Femoral
• Internal jugular
• Antecubital fossa (for the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) lines)

Insertion via these routes will be described and illustrated. Insertion at these sites may give rise to immediate and late complications. These complications, and ways to alleviate them, will also be explained.

The session will describe the use of ultrasound to assist with central venous cannulation. Finally, we consider the use of Pulmonary Artery Flotation Catheters (PAFC).