
Full Answer
What are the different types of central venous catheters?
The 7 different central venous catheters you need to know are: #1: The 7Fr Triple lumen catheter. The most common central line inserted is the 7 French triple lumen catheter. Every central line manufacturer that I am aware of has a 7 French triple lumen catheter in their product lineup.
What is the difference between a double lumen and a triple lumen?
If you place the central line for volume resuscitation or simple IV access, the double lumen catheter may be a better choice than a 7fr triple lumen. These catheters may be a larger french so each lumen is larger allowing for faster flow rates. See Poiseuille’s Law.
Can a triple lumen catheter be used for central venous access?
Placement of a longer, narrow-gauge (e.g., triple-lumen) catheter in this situation would be inappropriate because the smaller diameter and longer length significantly impede flow. Emergent central venous access placement can be performed in the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein.
What is the most common type of Central line?
#1: The 7Fr Triple lumen catheter. The most common central line inserted is the 7 French triple lumen catheter. Every central line manufacturer that I am aware of has a 7 French triple lumen catheter in their product lineup. It is the workhorse of your typical academic medical center and ICUs around the world.

Is a triple lumen a central line?
Triple-lumen catheter The most commonly used catheter for central venous access is the triple lumen catheter. They are preferred (particularly in the ICU) for their three infusion channels that allow for multiple therapies to be administered simultaneously.
What type of catheter is a triple lumen?
A triple lumen catheter has two channels which allow contrast to be injected while keeping a wire in place.
Which type of catheter is considered a central line?
You need a central line as part of your treatment. It's also called a central venous access device (CVAD) or central venous catheter (CVC). A small, soft tube called a catheter is put in a vein that leads to your heart.
What is a triple lumen catheter used for?
We describe the use of a triple-lumen catheter inserted through the umbilical vein for infusion of vasoactive substances, fluids, and blood products, and also for withdrawal and exchange transfusion of blood and central venous pressure monitoring.
What are considered central lines?
A central venous catheter, also known as a central line, is a tube that doctors place in a large vein in the neck, chest, groin, or arm to give fluids, blood, or medications or to do medical tests quickly.
Is central line and PICC line the same?
A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC line) is a type of central line. A central line (also called a central venous catheter) is like an intravenous (IV) line. But it is much longer than a regular IV and goes all the way up to a vein near the heart or just inside the heart.
What is another name for a central line?
A central venous catheter (KATHeter), also known as a central line or CVC, is long, soft, thin, hollow tube that is placed into a large vein (blood vessel). A central venous catheter differs from an intravenous (IV) catheter placed in the hand or arm (also called a “peripheral IV”).
Is a triple lumen catheter tunneled or Nontunneled?
Multilumen, nontunneled CVCs come in a variety of configurations and sizes. For example, a triple-lumen or quad-lumen catheter has three or four lumens, with orifices at slightly different positions on the distal cannula.
Is a PICC line a type of CVC?
The PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) is the only CVC that is peripherally inserted in the arm. It is inserted just above the elbow and is guided around until it is just above the large vein of the heart, the Superior Vena Cava (SVC). The PICC is the most used CVC.
Can you draw blood from a triple lumen catheter?
You can draw blood from a CVC using the discard method with direct Vacutainer connection or a syringe or using the push-pull method with a syringe. If you're drawing blood from a multilumen catheter that's infusing drugs or fluid, stop the infusions before the blood draw.
What is the difference between CVC and PICC?
PICC stands for "peripherally inserted central-line catheter.” A CVC is identical to a PICC line, except it's placed in the chest or neck. CVC stands for “central venous catheter.” A port is a catheter that's implanted surgically under the skin on the chest.
Where does a triple lumen catheter go?
It is inserted into a large vein such as the internal jugular vein and the tip ends up in the distal superior vena cava just outside the heart. As you can see from the photo and diagram of a triple lumen catheter below, the lumens are effectively separate catheters bound together.
What is a triple catheter?
The Trio-CT Catheter is indicated for short term central venous access (hemodialysis, apheresis, infusion, power injection of contrast media, and central venous pressure monitoring). The catheter's third lumen, used for power injection, decreases the need for additional needle sticks.
What is a 3 way catheter?
Three-way catheter The three-way irrigation catheter (Fig 2) is a large indwelling urinary catheter which has three lumens - for inflating the balloon which retains the catheter in the bladder, urine drainage and irrigation. The catheter simultaneously allows fluid to run into and drain out of the bladder.
Where is a triple lumen catheter placed?
These catheters may be placed via the subclavian or internal jugular vein, as well as via the femoral vein (2,3). Typically, they stay in place for 7–10 days but may remain in place for longer periods of time.
What gauge is a triple lumen catheter?
Triple Lumen CVC The central port projects to the distal end of the catheter and is a 16-gauge lumen. It also has two smaller 18-gauge lumens which each project as side ports just proximal to the end of the eight-inch-long catheter.
How many channels does a triple lumen catheter have?
A triple lumen catheter has two channels which allow contrast to be injected while keeping a wire in place.
Why is a triple lumen catheter inappropriate?
Placement of a longer, narrow-gauge (e.g., triple-lumen) catheter in this situation would be inappropriate because the smaller diameter and longer length significantly impede flow. Emergent central venous access placement can be performed in the internal jugular, subclavian, or femoral vein.
How to use a perfusion pump?
The low pressure valve on the machine should be opened to 7 PSI. Gently tap the transducer dome to remove any air. Initially the transducers are attached to the connecting catheters and the connecting catheters are in turn connected to the triple lumen catheters. Turn on the perfusion valve. Prime the triple lumen and the duodenal catheters (if used ). It is recommended that the perfusion system should be switched on for at least 15 minutes before the procedure. Care should be taken to avoid any air bubbles ( Fig. 10.1 ).
What is a pulmonary artery pressure catheter?
The pulmonary artery pressure catheter has altered the care of the child with severe cardiopulmonary derangement by allowing direct measurement of cardiovascular variables at the bedside. The indications for pulmonary catheter placement are listed in Table 1-6. With this catheter, it is possible to monitor central venous pressure, pulmonary artery pressure, pulmonary wedge pressure, and cardiac output. A 4-French, double-lumen catheter and a 5- to 8-French, triple-lumen catheter are available. The catheter is usually placed by percutaneous methods (as in the adult) except in the smallest pediatric patient, in whom a cutdown is sometimes required.
What is the difference between a 7-fr and a 9-fr catheter?
It depends on catheter size. For instance, 7-Fr triple-lumen catheters have narrow lumens, long lengths, and high resistance to flow, restricting the rate of blood administration and creating increased shear force on blood cells that can damage them. Nine French triple-lumen catheters have larger lumens and shorter lengths and are satisfactory for blood administration. Percutaneous introducer sheath used for pulmonary artery catheterization are short and have 9-Fr lumens and are excellent for blood administration. Always warm blood administered through central access to prevent hypothermia and arrhythmias.
What is a TPN in a double lumen catheter?
If a double- or triple-lumen catheter is used, label one lumen for total parenteral nutrition (TPN) use exclusively.
What is a 4-lumen catheter?
A 4-French, double-lumen catheter and a 5- to 8-French, triple-lumen catheter are available. The catheter is usually placed by percutaneous methods (as in the adult) except in the smallest pediatric patient, in whom a cutdown is sometimes required.
Where is the lumen on a catheter?
Edited to add: I believe the size of the lumen is marked on the catheter, just below the cap. So, never mind the cap colour, look for the gague! The largest will be for drawing blood or giving TPN.
What is the proximal port of a triple lumen?
Thanks. If I remember correctly, the triple lumen has a proximal, medial and distal port. The proximal is the brown cap and is used for blood draws, the distal (white cap) is the port used for infusions like TPN and the medial port is used for routine fluids and IV meds on a pump. Of course, once you get into practice, ...
What is the distal port on a multilumen line?
The ports are described in relation to the insertion site - where the line enters the patient. So the port that opens up at the tippy end of the line - which is the brown-ended one on an Arrow multilumen - that's the distal port. The blue one is medial, the white one is proximal - closest to the site of insertion.
Which lumen is used for TPN?
The distal is always for monitoring and for blood administration as it is the largest lumen (usually) In the absence of monitoring it is used for TPN.
Can you run a pressor into a central line?
An important point: don't run anything into a central line lumen without checking that there's a good, visible blood return. Suppose you turned your patient over and the line took a yank, got pulled out a couple of inches. If you were infusing pressors through the proximal port - perfectly ok in a properly situated line - and those pressors now began infusing into the tissue on account of the port was pulled back out of the vessel - that would be a bad thing. As a stopgap you could switch the pressor infusion to the distal port, get your x-ray, and think about getting the line replaced.
Can inotropes be placed on the same lumen?
Inotropes are NEVER placed on the same lumen as the monitoring as they may be accidentally "flushed". Hope this helps. 1 Likes.
Is it safe to use proximal or distal port for blood draws?
I was always taught distal for blood draws, medial for TPN and proximal for IV infusions. But I don't think that is a "hard and fast" nursing rule; the safest answer would be "CHECK COMPANY POLICY." I have seen all three ports used for all three stated uses. If you do have CVP readings, you must have your transducer connected to the distal port.
What is a triple lumen?
Triple lumen – a catheter with three channels for delivery of three separate fluids
How does a central line catheter work?
A central line catheterenters through one of the major veins and forms a pathway toward the heart, which pumps the fluids quickly into the patient's bloodstream. Intensive care teams often use these central venous catheters to administer urgent treatment. A central line catheter can remain in place for up to several months for patients with long-term or recurring medical issues.
Which is better, a central line or a peripheral IV?
A central line with an external port is more stable than a peripheral IV. It works better for outpatients because it is more likely to stay in place despite daily activities. Some of the types of central line cathetersinclude:
