title: Complications of central venous catheters: nursing care.
abstract: There are increasing numbers of patients, both at home and in the hospital, receiving intravenous therapy via long-term central venous catheters. Although fairly commonplace, there are many potential complications associated with the insertion and use of these catheters. This article describes the insertion and postinsertion-related complications of these devices. The article will give the nurse the information and confidence required for observing, detecting, preventing and/or treating promptly any complication to ensure the best possible nursing care.
authors.affiliation: Parenteral Nutrition and Line Insertion Service, Oxford Radcliffe Hospitals Trust.
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Drewett
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000451:nursing*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology / Q000451:nursing; D004618:Embolism, Air / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control; D011030:Pneumothorax / Q000209:etiology* / Q000451:nursing