Page 1 of 25 DESCRIPTION/OVERVIEW The purpose of this ...

2.2. Device related infection
2.3. Interventions implemented
2.4. Date and time that physician was notified
2.5. Annotate all VART team contacts and consultations in the medical record
2.6. Assist VART team members in Quality Assurance documentation.
3. Document all patient/family teaching, patient/family understanding and discharge
planning in the Multidisciplinary Teaching Form and on nursing flowsheet.
DEFINITIONS
Central Venous Catheter (CVC) This is a catheter that is threaded through the internal jugular,
antecubital, subclavian, or femoral vein usually with the tip resting in the superior vena cava or
the right atrium of the heart. It is also used to administer fluids or medications. Blood may be
withdrawn for diagnosis and laboratory analysis.
Long Arm Catheter (LAC) This is a catheter inserted into a peripheral vein of the upper arm. It
may be inserted into a central vein. This catheter is inserted by a trained RN, member of the
VART team or by a physician. Blood may be drawn from any catheter larger than 3 Fr.
Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter (PICC) Same as LAC.
Vascular Access Resource Team (VART) This is a specially trained team of individuals who are
competent with the insertion and removal of a PICC line. There is a course designed to train
individuals (nurses and doctors) who wish to do this procedure. There is a yearly competency to
check the skill level of these individuals.
Venous Access Device (VAD) This is a central line that is placed in a patient under sterile
conditions of an operating room or interventional radiology. It can be tunneled through the skin
into the central venous circulation (broviac, groshong, or hohn) or placed in a pocket of skin on
the chest (infusaport) or arm (PASport), into the central venous circulation.
SUMMARY OF CHANGES
1. This was changed from a policy to a procedure and placed into the new format.
2. Any wording that included the use of betadine as the antiseptic skin cleanser was changed
to the wording of chlorhexidine.
3. Policy cross-references were increased to be more inclusion of current practices.
4. A statement addressing location of patient when the venous access device was inserted
was added.
5. References were updated.
6. Within the Attachment D: Care of the Pediatric Central Catheter, changes were made to
catheter access, irrigations, frequency of dressing and needle less access cap changes, and
whom to call with a central line break.
7. The procedure for accessing an infusaport (portacath) has been added.
8. Information regarding caring for a patient in the Post Anesthesia Care
Unit (PACU) when the vascular access device was placed in the Operating Room was
added.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Title: Venous Access Device
Owner: Clinical Education Department
Effective Date: 07/27/05
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