Healthcare professionals require central venous access (access to a major vein) in patients for several reasons, including but not limited to the administration of medications, the insertion of catheters, and to frequently draw blood.

There are many devices that can be used/inserted to enable ongoing central venous access, known as Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs).

The most suitable device will be decided based on the patient’s condition and the healthcare professional’s requirement for central venous access.

Two common devices include the Infusaport and the Hickman catheter.

• Infus-a-port – an implanted CVAD that sits beneath the skin. This device is suitable for long-term use (more than one year). It’s frequently required for administration of chemotherapy in cancer patients.
• Hickman – the Hickman line is a tunnelled CVAD that is suitable for short-term central venous access (no longer than one year). Its common application is an adequate access for haemodialysis in patients with advanced kidney failure.