Surgical Patient EducationAmerican College of Surgeons • Division of Education
TUNNELED CATHETERS BROVIAC,
HICKMAN, LEONARD, GROSHONG
For a skin-tunneled catheter, a small cut is made on
the chest, usually near the collarbone. The tip of the
catheter is advanced into a large vein leading to the
heart. The other end of the catheter is threaded under
the skin and brought out through a small cut on the
chest. Most catheters will contain a cu that lies under
the skin at the entry site. After placement, there will be
a dressing over the insertion site. A tunneled catheter
can be left in place for years with proper care.
The care involved with a tunneled catheter includes:
f The tubing lies outside the body on the chest.
f The cu helps secure the
catheter, so it rarely slips out.
f The sterile dressing and
needleless connector are changed
at least every 7 days. Once healed,
catheters may not need a dressing.
f The tube has to be ushed
regularly, sometimes daily.
f The entry site should not get wet—you must
cover it during showering and bathing.
Broviac CVAD with dressing
and tubing looped up and
secured to chest
Tunneled CVAD Catheter
Catheter tunneled
under skin
Superior vena cava
Subclavian vein
End of central catheter
Vein entry
Clamp
Heart
Exit site
Needleless connector
Needleless port
Cuff
Two lumens
Catheter