title: Between the lines: The 50th anniversary of long-term central venous catheters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tunneled central venous catheters (CVC) were developed five decades ago. Since then, several clinician-inventors have created a variety of catheters with different functions. Indeed, many catheters have been named after their inventor. Many have wondered who the inventors were of each catheter, and what specifically inspired their inventions. Many of these compelling stories have yet to be told.
  
  
  METHODS
  A literature review of common catheters and personal communication with inventors. Only first person accounts from inventors or those close to the invention were used.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  CVCs are now essential devices that have saved countless lives. Though the inventors have earned the honor of naming their catheters, it may be reasonable to consider more consistent terminology to describe these catheters to avoid confusion.
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA. Electronic address: Kenneth.gow@seattlechildrens.org.
authors.forename: Kenneth W
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Gow
authors.affiliation: Division of General and Thoracic Surgery, Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tapper
authors.affiliation: Division of Nephrology, Seattle Children's Hospital and the University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert O
authors.initials: RO
authors.lastname: Hickman
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000266:history*; D062905:Central Venous Catheters / Q000266:history*; D005060:Europe; D049670:History, 17th Century; D049672:History, 19th Century; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D062069:Inventions / Q000266:history*; D062068:Inventors / Q000266:history*; D014481:United States
keywords: Catheter; Central; Review; Tunneled; Venous