Why does my child need a central line? n To decrease the number of times your child is poked n To draw most blood samples with a needle n This is a joint decision between the family and the health n To administer medication and fluids into a large vein care team and may be based on the treatment course Implanted Catheter (Port-a-Cath®) Central Venous Catheter (Broviac®) n■ This IV line is placed in surgery. It is entirely under the skin (looks and feels like a n■ A surgically placed line put into a vein in your child’s chest. bump). Inside the body: the catheter leads to vein above the heart n■ Inside the body, the device has two parts: Dacron® cuff: Prevents the catheter A small rubber dome from being pulled out and keeps An attached flexible tube that goes to a bacteria out. The skin grows around large vein leading to the heart the cuff. Outside of the body: n■ When treatments are given, a special needle This part may with attached tubing is inserted through have one or two smaller tubes (called the skin into the rubber dome. A medicated lumens). Each lumen has a removable disc (BIOPATCH®) and clear, plastic cap and a plastic clamp. Medications dressing are placed over the needle. are injected through the cap into the catheter and travel directly into the 2 vein. Considerations: 1 n■ There will be a “poke” when the port is Considerations: accessed at the start of each treatment. The n■ Central venous catheters can have two needle is changed each week. lumens. Outside of the body it looks like n■ A numbing cream can be used to help with two catheters that connect into one before this discomfort. entering the body. However, there is no n■ There is minimal care for the port by the connection between the two lumens. caregiver/parent, so there is less risk of the Needle Different medications, fluids, and blood line getting infected at home. BIOPATCH® products can be infused at the same time. Port Catheter Home routine: Home routine: n■ Caregiver/parent flushes the line with an n■ Must be accessed with special needle and anticlotting medicine every day. Example of inside a double flushed with heparin at least once a month Vein lumen catheter by home health, the clinic, or hospital. n■ Caregiver/parent cleans and applies a new dressing every week. Single port Double port A double port can be placed in larger children and teenagers. Two needles For additional copies of this book, please are needed (one for each port). With a visit Patient and Family Education A-Z at: double port, different medications, fluids, children.ucdavis.edu and blood products can be infused at the same time. CH-LINE-15-ENG.