Vascular Catheters

Vascular catheters are hollow tubes used to gain access to the circulatory system. They are typically placed via large caliber vessels. Smaller caliber peripherally inserted central catheters (PICC) may be inserted via an antecubital vein. Vascular catheters are often placed temporarily for patients requiring intravenous drugs, fluid resuscitation, dialysis, or hemodynamic monitoring. For longer-term access, subcutaneous ports may be placed surgically. The ideal tip position for most central catheters is at the superior cavoatrial junction. Pulmonary artery catheters (PACs) are occasionally used in critically ill and postoperative patients for various purposes, including hemodynamic monitoring, but their use has generally decreased. An intraaortic baloon pump (IABP) consists of a long inflatable balloon mounted on a catheter used in patients with critical heart failure, with the goal of improving coronary flow. Follow-up radiographs are obtained after vascular catheter placement to exclude malposition or resultant complications.