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CENTRAL LINE

What is a Central Line?
Your healthcare provider has requested that you undergo the placement of a central line. This is a catheter that will allow access to your blood for medications. Tunneled central lines (under the skin) are more permanent and may provide access for months. A non-tunneled central line is for temporary access. Both of these lines are placed in a vein (internal jugular) within your neck, and the catheter tip is located near the heart.

How Should I Prepare?
You may be directed not to eat or drink anything for six hours prior to your procedure. You may take your medications as directed. Speak to your doctor if you need to adjust your insulin dosing. Prior to your procedure, you should make sure all medications and allergies are updated. If you are on a blood thinner you may be requested to stop that medication for a period of time.

How is the Procedure Performed?
The procedure will be performed by a qualified healthcare professional with specific training in Interventional Radiology. The procedure will be performed under fluoroscopy (x-ray). Intravenous medications may be given to make you more comfortable and relaxed. This is called conscious sedation.

Placement of a central line starts with cleaning the skin at the base of the neck and upper chest wall with a sterilizing solution. Numbing medicine is injected into the skin. Ultrasound-guidance is then used to insert a small needle into a vein at the base of the neck. A non-tunneled catheter is inserted into the vein directly at this site and does not involve placing it under the skin. The catheter tracks under the skin for a short distance and comes out in the upper chest wall. Once proper placement is confirmed by x-ray the catheter is sutured in place and is ready for immediate use

What Should I Expect After the Procedure?
Following the procedure, you will be monitored for a period of time for any complications.

How is a Central Line Removed?
If you no longer require the central line, your physician will provide an order for removal. This procedure is simpler than the placement and usually only requires local numbing medicine. Non-tunneled catheters are simply pulled out after removing sutures. Tunneled catheters require removing a small amount of scar tissue. Once the central line is removed a sterile bandage is applied.

CHEST PORTS

What is a Chest Port?
Your healthcare provider has requested that you undergo the placement of a chest port. The reason for placing a chest port is so that you can have long-term access for medications (especially chemotherapy), lab draws, hydration, and other treatments.

How Should I Prepare?
You should not eat or drink anything for six hours prior to your procedure. You may take your medications as directed. Speak to your doctor if you need to adjust your insulin dosing. Prior to your procedure, you should make sure all medications and allergies are updated. If you are on a blood thinner you may be requested to stop that medication for a period of time. You will want to arrange for a ride home from a responsible adult afterwards should you require sedation.

How is the Procedure Performed?
The procedure will be performed by a qualified healthcare professional with specific training in Interventional Radiology. The procedure will be performed under fluoroscopy (x-ray). Intravenous medications may be given to make you more comfortable and relaxed. This is called conscious sedation.

Placement of a chest port starts with cleaning the skin at the base of the neck and upper chest wall with a sterilizing solution. Numbing medicine is injected into the skin. Ultrasound-guidance is then used to insert a small needle into a vein at the base of the neck. A small plastic or metal device about the diameter of a nickel is then placed under the skin in the upper chest wall, and this connects to tubing which tracks under the skin and enters the vein in the neck. A bump can be felt under the skin, but no part of the device is exposed. Small incisions are closed with absorbable sutures and skin glue (Dermabond). The port will be ready for immediate use.

What Should I Expect After the Procedure?
Following the procedure, you will be monitored for a period of time for any complications. You may feel some tenderness over the port area for the next few days which can typically be managed with over-the-counter pain medication. The sutures do not need to be removed, and the glue will fall off on its own after a few days.

How is the Chest Port Removed?
If you no longer require the chest port, your physician will provide an order for removal. This procedure is simpler than the placement and usually only requires local numbing medicine. Typically the same incision site will be used to remove your port. Similar to the original port placement, the incision post removal will be closed with absorbable sutures and skin glue.

HEMODIALYSIS CATHETER

What is a Hemodialysis Catheter?
Your healthcare provider has requested that you undergo the placement of a hemodialysis catheter. This catheter will allow access to your blood for hemodialysis. A non-tunneled hemodialysis catheter (not under the skin) is for short-term dialysis use only. Tunneled hemodialysis catheters (under the skin) are more permanent and may provide access for months. Both of these lines are placed in a vein (internal jugular) within your neck, and the catheter tip is located near the heart.

How Should I Prepare?
You may be directed not to eat or drink anything for six hours prior to your procedure. You may take your medications as directed. Speak to your doctor if you need to adjust your insulin dosing. Prior to your procedure, you should make sure all medications and allergies are updated. If you are on a blood thinner you may be requested to stop that medication for a period of time.

How is the Procedure Performed?
The procedure will be performed by a qualified healthcare professional with specific training in Interventional Radiology. The procedure will be performed under fluoroscopy (x-ray). Intravenous medications may be given to make you more comfortable and relaxed. This is called conscious sedation. Placement of a hemodialysis catheter starts with cleaning the skin at the base of the neck and upper chest wall with a sterilizing solution. Numbing medicine is injected into the skin. Ultrasound-guidance is then used to insert a small needle into a vein at the base of the neck. A non-tunneled catheter is inserted into the vein directly at this site. A tunneled catheter tracks under the skin for a short distance and comes out in the upper chest wall. Once proper placement is confirmed by x-rays the catheter is sutured in place and is ready for immediate use

What Should I Expect After the Procedure?
Following the procedure, you will be monitored for a period of time for any complications.

How is a Hemodialysis Catheter Removed?
If you no longer require dialysis, your physician will provide an order for removal of the hemodialysis catheter. This procedure is simpler than the placement and usually only requires local numbing medicine. Non-tunneled catheters are simply pulled out after removing sutures. Tunneled catheters require removing a small amount of scar tissue. Once the hemodialysis catheter is removed a sterile bandage is applied.

PICC LINE

What is a PICC Line?
Your healthcare provider has requested that you undergo the placement of a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC). A PICC line is placed to have venous access for antibiotics, hydration, chemotherapy, lab draws, or other indications. A PICC Line is most commonly inserted into the upper arm, and the tip is located near the heart.

How Should I Prepare?
You may be directed not to eat or drink anything for six hours prior to your procedure. You may take your medications as directed. Speak to your doctor if you need to adjust your insulin dosing. Prior to your procedure, you should make sure all medications and allergies are updated. If you are on a blood thinner you may be requested to stop that medication for a period of time.

How is the Procedure Performed?
The procedure will be performed by a qualified healthcare professional with specific training in Interventional Radiology. The procedure will be performed under fluoroscopy (x-ray).

The placement of a PICC line most commonly involves looking at a vein in your arm using an ultrasound machine. The skin is cleaned with a sterilizing solution, and numbing medicine will be injected over the targeted area. A needle and wire will be guided into a blood vessel, and the PICC line is then advanced over the wire. X-rays are used to confirm proper placement. A sterile dressing will be applied and the PICC line is ready for immediate use.

What Should I Expect After the Procedure?
Following the procedure, some pressure may be applied to the arm to avoid any bleeding. Patients usually go home shortly after placement. How is a PICC Line Removed?

If you no longer require the PICC Line, your physician will provide an order for removal or pull the line themselves. If sutures were placed, these will be removed after the skin has been cleaned with sterilizing solution. The PICC Line will then be pulled out of the vessel and some brief pressure will be applied to avoid any bleeding. A sterile dressing will be applied.

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