Central venous catheter Health Dictionary

Central Venous Catheter: From 1 Different Sources


an intravenous catheter for insertion directly into a large vein, most commonly the subclavian vein, during its passage under the clavicle, or the jugular in the neck. Such catheters can also be inserted into the femoral vein at the groin. They enable intravenous drugs and fluids to be given and intravenous pressures to be measured, which is often useful during operations or in intensive care. Central venous catheters must be inserted under strictly sterile conditions using a local anaesthetic.
Health Source: Oxford | Concise Colour Medical Dictionary
Author: Jonathan Law, Elizabeth Martin

Central Nervous System

A collective term for the brain, spinal cord, their nerves, and the sensory end organs. More broadly, this can even include the neurotransmitting hormones instigated by the CNS that control the chemical nervous system, the endocrine glands.... central nervous system

Central Venous Pressure

The pressure of blood within the right atrium of the HEART as measured by a catheter and manometer.... central venous pressure

Swan-ganz Catheter

(See also CATHETERS.) A ?exible tube with a double lumen and a small balloon at its distal end. It is introduced into a vein in the arm and advanced until the end of the catheter is in the right atrium (see HEART). The balloon is then in?ated with air through one lumen and this enables the bloodstream to propel the catheter through the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery. The balloon is de?ated and the catheter can then record the pulmonary artery pressure. When the balloon is in?ated, the tip is isolated from the pulmonary artery and measures the left atrial pressure. These measurements are important in the management of patients with circulatory failure, as under these circumstances the central venous pressure or the right atrial pressure is an unreliable guide to ?uid-replacement.... swan-ganz catheter

Catheter

A flexible tube inserted into the body to drain or introduce fluids or carry out other functions. Catheters are commonly used to drain urine from the bladder (see catheterization, urinary). Other types are used to investigate the condition of the heart (see catheterization, cardiac), to widen obstructed blood vessels, or to control bleeding. (See also balloon catheter.)... catheter

Hickman Catheter

A flexible plastic tube, also known as a skin-tunnelled catheter, that is passed through the chest and inserted into the subclavian vein, which leads to the heart. It is often used in people who have leukaemia or other cancers and need regular chemotherapy and blood tests. The catheter allows drugs to be injected directly into the bloodstream and blood samples to be obtained easily. The catheter is inserted, under local anaesthesia. It can remain in position for months; the external end is plugged when not in use.... hickman catheter

Arterio-venous Aneurysm

An abnormal communication between an artery and a vein. It is usually the result of an injury, such as a stab or a gunshot wound, which involves both a neighbouring artery and vein.... arterio-venous aneurysm

Cardiac Catheterisation

A diagnostic procedure in which a tube is inserted into a blood vessel under local anaesthetic and threaded through to the chambers of the heart to monitor blood ?ow, blood pressure, blood chemistry and the output of the heart, and to take a sample of heart tissue. The technique is used to diagnose congenital heart disease and coronary artery disease. Another application is in the diagnosis and treatment of valvular disease in the heart.... cardiac catheterisation

Catheters

Hollow tubes, usually made of rubber or plastic, used for passing into various organs of the body, either for investigational purposes or to give some form of treatment. They are used under strict sterile conditions.

Cardiac catheters are introduced through a vein in the arm and passed into the heart in order to diagnose some of the more obscure forms of congenital heart disease, and often as a preliminary to operating on the heart.... catheters

Endotracheal Catheters Are Used To Pass

down the TRACHEA into the lungs, usually in the course of administering anaesthetics (see under ANAESTHESIA).

Eustachian catheters are small catheters that are passed along the ?oor of the nose into the Eustachian tube in order to in?ate the ear.

Nasal catheters are tubes passed through the nose into the stomach to feed a patient who cannot swallow – so-called nasal feeding.

Rectal catheters are passed into the RECTUM in order to introduce ?uid into the rectum.

Suprapubic catheters are passed into the bladder through an incision in the lower abdominal wall just above the pubis, either to allow urine to drain away from the bladder, or to wash out an infected bladder.

Ureteric catheters are small catheters that are passed up the ureter into the pelvis of the kidney, usually to determine the state of the kidney, either by obtaining a sample of urine direct from the kidney or to inject a radio-opaque substance preliminary to X-raying the kidney. (See PYELOGRAPHY.)

Urethral catheters are catheters that are passed along the urethra into the bladder, either to draw o? urine or to wash out the bladder.

It is these last three types of catheters that are most extensively used.... endotracheal catheters are used to pass

Intermittent Self-catheterisation

A technique in which a patient (of either sex) inserts a disposable catheter (see CATHETERS) through the URETHRA into the bladder to empty it of urine. It is increasingly used to manage patients with chronic retention of urine, or whose bladders do not empty properly

– usually the result of neurological disorder affecting the bladder (neuropathic bladder). (See URINARY BLADDER, DISEASES OF.)... intermittent self-catheterisation

Venous

Pertaining to the veins, or more broadly to include both venous AND lymphatic circulation.... venous

Venous Stasis

Having congested venous blood and lymph. Usually a larger condition effecting tissue or organ function, as opposed to the more vascular implications of venosities and varicosities.... venous stasis

Venous Ulcer

See under ULCER.... venous ulcer

Balloon Catheter

A flexible tube with a balloon at its tip, which, when inflated, keeps the tube in place or applies pressure to an organ or vessel.

One type is used to drain urine from the bladder (see catheterization, urinary).

Balloon catheters are sometimes used to expand narrowed arteries (balloon angioplasty).

They may also be used to control bleeding oesophageal varices before surgery.... balloon catheter

Catheterization, Cardiac

A diagnostic test in which a fine, sterile catheter is introduced into the heart via a blood vessel. It is used to diagnose and assess the extent of congenital heart disease (see heart disease, congenital) and coronary artery disease, and to diagnose and treat some disorders of the heart valves (see valvuloplasty). During the procedure, the pressure within the heart’s chambers can be measured, samples of blood and tissue can be taken, and a radiopaque substance can be injected to allow the heart’s cavities to be X-rayed.... catheterization, cardiac

Catheterization, Urinary

Insertion of a sterile catheter into the bladder to drain urine. The procedure is used when a person is unable to empty the bladder normally or is incontinent (see incontinence, urinary). Urinary catheterization is also used during operations, in bladder function tests such as cystometry and cystourethrography, and to monitor urine production in the critically ill.... catheterization, urinary

Anomalous Pulmonary Venous Drainage

a congenital abnormality in which the pulmonary veins enter the right atrium or vena cava instead of draining into the left atrium. The clinical features are those of an *atrial septal defect.... anomalous pulmonary venous drainage

Catheterization

n. the introduction of a *catheter into a hollow organ or vessel. In urethral catheterization a catheter is introduced into the bladder through the urethra to relieve obstruction to the outflow of urine (see also intermittent self-catheterization). Catheters can also be passed above the pubis through the anterior abdominal wall (suprapubic catheterization) directly into a full bladder if urethral catheterization is not possible. Cardiac catheterization entails the introduction of special catheters into the chambers of the heart. This allows the measurement of pressures in the chambers and pressure gradients across the heart valves, as well as the injection of contrast medium for visualization of structures using X-rays (see coronary angiography). Vascular catheterization enables the introduction into the arteries or veins of: (1) contrast medium for angiography or venography; (2) drugs to constrict or expand vessels or to dissolve a thrombus (see thrombolysis); (3) metal coils or other solid materials to block bleeding vessels or to thrombose *aneurysms (see embolization); (4) devices for monitoring pressures within important vessels (e.g. *Swan-Ganz catheters for monitoring pulmonary artery pressure in critically ill patients); or (5) balloons and *stents to relieve obstruction.... catheterization

Central Auditory Processing Disorder

see auditory processing disorder.... central auditory processing disorder

Central Island

an area of significant irregular astigmatism seen on *corneal topography after laser refractive surgery. It may affect the postoperative outcome.... central island

Central Pontine Myelinolysis

acute paralysis, dysphagia, and dysarthria resulting from damage to the myelin sheaths of nerve cells in the brainstem. It occurs most commonly as a complication of rapid correction of severe hyponatraemia (low serum sodium).... central pontine myelinolysis

Central Serous Chorioretinopathy

shallow *retinal detachment in the area of the macula due to a localized leakage through the retinal pigment epithelium (see retina) into the subretinal space. The cause is unknown. It affects young adult males, causing reduced or distorted central vision that usually settles in a few months.... central serous chorioretinopathy

Cerebral Venous Sinus Thrombosis

the presence of thrombosis in the dural venous sinuses, which drain blood from the brain. Symptoms may include headache, abnormal vision, any of the symptoms of stroke (such as weakness of the face and limbs on one side of the body), and seizures. Treatment is with anticoagulants.... cerebral venous sinus thrombosis

Intermittent Self-catheterization

(clean intermittent self-catheterization, ISC, CISC) a procedure in which the patient periodically passes a disposable catheter through the urethra into the bladder for the purpose of emptying it of urine. It is increasingly used in the management of patients of both sexes (including children) with chronic *retention and large residual urine volumes, often due to *neuropathic bladder. ISC may prevent back pressure and dilatation of the upper urinary tract with consequent infection and incontinence.... intermittent self-catheterization

Jugular Venous Pressure

(JVP) the pressure in the internal jugular vein, which is an indirect measurement of *central venous pressure (CVP) in the right atrium. In clinical practice the JVP is estimated by visual inspection at the bedside with the patient reclining at 45 degrees.... jugular venous pressure

Rusch Catheter

a catheter traditionally used for prostate surgery but now successful in the management of *postpartum haemorrhage as an alternative to hysterectomy. The catheter is inserted into the uterine cavity and the balloon filled passively with up to 500 ml warm saline to achieve a *tamponade effect. An alternative is the Bakri balloon, which has been designed specifically for obstetric use.... rusch catheter

Suprapubic Catheter

a catheter passed through the abdominal wall above the pubis, usually into a very enlarged bladder with urinary retention. Usually, suprapubic *catheterization is performed only if it is not possible to perform urethral catheterization.... suprapubic catheter

Venous Thromboembolism

(VTE) the formation of a blood clot in a vein, which may become detached and lodged elsewhere. It includes deep vein thrombosis (see phlebothrombosis) and *pulmonary embolism. VTE is a leading direct cause of maternal death (see maternal mortality rate). See also thromboembolism.... venous thromboembolism



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