| Peripheral venous catheters |
Usually inserted in veins of forearm or hand |
<3 inches |
Phlebitis with prolonged use; rarely associated with bloodstream infection |
| Peripheral arterial catheters |
Usually inserted in radial artery; can be placed in femoral, axillary, brachial, posterior tibial arteries |
<3 inches |
Low infection risk; rarely associated with bloodstream infection |
| Midline catheters |
Inserted via the antecubital fossa into the proximal basilic or cephalic veins; does not enter central veins, peripheral catheters |
3 to 8 inches |
Anaphylactoid reactions have been reported with catheters made of elastomeric hydrogel; lower rates of phlebitis than short peripheral catheters |
| Nontunneled central venouscatheters |
Percutaneously inserted into central veins (subclavian, internal jugular, or femoral) |
≥8 cm depending on patient size |
Account for majority of CRBSI |
| Pulmonary artery catheters |
Inserted through a Teflon® introducer in a central vein (subclavian, internal jugular, or femoral) |
≥30 cm depending on patient size |
Usually heparin bonded; similar rates of bloodstream infection as CVCs; subclavian site preferred to reduce infection risk |
| Peripherally inserted centralvenous catheters (PICC) |
Inserted into basilic, cephalic, or brachial veins and enter the superior vena cava |
≥20 cm depending on patient size |
Lower rate of infection than nontunneled CVCs |
| Tunneled central venous catheters |
Implanted into subclavian, internal jugular, or femoral veins |
≥8 cm depending on patient size |
Cuff inhibits migration of organisms into catheter tract; lower rate of infection than nontunneled CVC |
| Totally implantable |
Tunneled beneath skin and have subcutaneous port accessed with a needle; implanted in subclavian or internal jugular vein |
≥8 cm depending on patient size |
Lowest risk for CRBSI; improved patient self-image; no need for local catheter-site care; surgery required for catheter removal |
| Umbilical catheters |
Inserted into either umbilical vein or umbilical artery |
≤6 cm depending on patient size |
Risk for CRBSI similar with catheters placed in umbilical vein versus artery |
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