What are the benefits and risks of having a CVC? Because infection is less likely with a midline, it is sometimes preferred over a CVC. But midlines cannot be used to give medicines that can damage veins or those that require a CVC (such as total parenteral nutrition, or TPN). Midlines may be used when a person has fragile veins or need medicines for days to weeks. Midlines are like CVCs, but they are shorter and don’t go all the way to the superior vena cava (SVC). When you don’t need the CVC anymore, it can be removed by a nurse or other health care provider.Tunneled CVCs can be left in place for weeks to months.There are usually one to three lines, which allows for multiple infusions at once.If it will not be used for a while, you may need to have it flushed occasionally to keep it working. Tunneled CVCs are flushed before and after each use.You will need to cover the CVC and dressing while bathing or showering. Since tunneled CVCs stick out of the skin, they cannot get wet.Having the catheter partly under the skin also lowers the risk it will accidently be pulled out. The catheter is placed this way to lower the risk of infection.The end of the catheter tubing sticks out of the skin and is stitched in place. It is tunneled under the skin and brought out through a separate incision (exit site). A tunneled CVC is placed into a vein in the chest or neck through a small incision (insertion site).Tunneled CVCs (also called Hickman, Groshong, or Broviac catheters) When you don’t need the port anymore, you will have a short procedure to remove it.Double ports allow two infusions at the same time. Single ports allow one infusion at a time. Single and double ports are available.If the port will not be used for a while, you may need to have it flushed occasionally to keep the line working. Your port will be flushed before and after each use.After the port is placed and the incision heals, and while it is not being accessed, you can bathe, shower, and swim with the port in place.The port itself is all under the skin, so when it is not being used it looks like a small bump. After the infusion is complete, the needle will be removed.The port needle is connected to tubing for treatments.Sometimes a numbing cream is rubbed on the skin before the needle is placed into the port. You might hear this called “accessing” your port. When the port is used, a nurse or other health care provider will place a needle through the skin and into the port.The area will be numbed and you might be given medicine to help you relax. Implanting a port is a short surgical procedure.They are usually placed in the upper chest but can sometimes go in the arm or abdomen (belly). Implanted ports (also called a port, Mediport, or port-a-cath) The kinds of CVCs commonly used during cancer treatment are: You and your doctor will discuss which is best for you. You need total parenteral nutrition (TPN), a kind of liquid nutrition that is given by IV.You need lots of different medicines and treatments at once that each need an IV.
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