Central lines are placed with the patient will need long term blood draws and or medication injections. This allows medical personnel to administer IV medications and blood draws without multiple needle sticks in your arms. Central lines can be tunneled and non-tunneled, implanted ports, or PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter) lines. They can have 1,2, or 3 lumens, depending on why central line is needed. The tip of the catheter is placed into the atrium of the heart with the exit site depending, as to what time of line is inserted. Tunneled and non-tunnel have exit sites at the neck, or chest wall area, while a PICC line’s exit is typically in the arm. The catheters ends have clips and caps that preventing blood from leaking out and air from entering the body.
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