Venous Access

For patients who require reliable access to the bloodstream for ongoing treatment, a venous access procedure is often performed. Interventional radiologists use imaging to guide the placement of a central venous catheter (a thin, flexible tube) into a large blood vessel in the neck, chest or groin. This allows clinicians to administer medications or fluids, or conduct blood draws, without the need for repeated needle sticks.

In addition to long term medication and fluid administration, central venous catheters are used for blood transfusions, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition, antibiotics and dialysis access.