Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter

A peripherally inserted central catheter, also called a percutaneous indwelling central catheter or longline, is a form of intravenous access that can be used for a prolonged period of time, for instance for long chemotherapy regimens, extended antibiotic therapy or total parenteral nutrition, or for administration of substances that should not be given peripherally, such as antihypotensive agents known as pressors. It is a catheter that enters the body through the skin at a peripheral site, extends to the superior vena cava, a central venous trunk, and stays in place within the veins for days, weeks or even months. First described in 1975, it is an alternative to central venous catheters placed in major veins such as the subclavian vein, the internal jugular vein or the femoral vein, and while subclavian and jugular line placements may result in pneumothorax, air in the pleural space of the lung, peripherally inserted central catheters have no such issue because of their method of placement.