What you need to know about central venous lines.

A central venous line is a device that is inserted into the superior vena cava or right atrium. There are a number of reasons why such a device may be used. Two of the main reasons are to monitor central venous pressure and for the rapid infusion of fluids. This article discusses the types of central venous devices, the insertion of the catheter, the manual and electronic measurement of central venous pressure, and the complications that can occur when the device is in place. The nurse's role in caring for a patient with a central venous line is discussed, as is the removal of the catheter.