Long Term Venous Access: A Guide to Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) Procedures at SJMC
Long-term venous access is a critical component for many medical treatments, particularly those that require frequent or prolonged intravenous medication administration or blood sampling. At Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC), our Vascular and Interventional Radiology (VIR) team specialises in creating long-term venous access for patients through various minimally invasive procedures.
Here, we explore the role of VIR in the diagnosis and treatment of long-term venous access, including the benefits and potential risks of these procedures.
Long-term venous access is essential to medical treatment, particularly for patients requiring frequent or long-term intravenous medication administration or blood sampling. Such treatments may include chemotherapy, blood transfusions, or long-term antibiotic therapy. Long-term venous access is also used to monitor critical medical conditions such as diabetes, sepsis, and kidney failure. At SJMC, our VIR team uses advanced imaging and minimally invasive techniques to provide safe and effective long-term venous access for patients.
Long-Term Venous Access
Long-term venous access refers to using a device or catheter that provides continuous, long-term access to a patient's bloodstream for medical treatments. At SJMC, our VIR team offers several minimally invasive techniques for the placement of long-term venous access devices, including:
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Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters (PICC)
A PICC is a long, thin tube inserted into a vein in the arm and advanced to the large vein near the heart. This allows for long-term intravenous access and can be used for many types of medical treatments.
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Tunnelled Central Venous Catheter (CVC)
A tunnelled CVC is a long-term access device inserted into a vein in the neck or chest and tunnelled under the skin to an exit site on the chest. This type of catheter is used for patients who require long-term vascular access, such as those undergoing haemodialysis.
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Implanted Port
An implanted port is a small, round device that is placed under the skin of the chest and connected to a catheter that is threaded into a vein. The port is accessed using a special needle for long-term intravenous medication administration or blood sampling.
Benefits of Long-term Venous Access
Long-term venous access offers several benefits, including:
Convenience
Long-term venous access devices allow easy and frequent access to the bloodstream, reducing the need for repeated needle sticks or peripheral IV placements.
Improved Patient Comfort
Long-term venous access devices are more comfortable than traditional IV catheters, reducing discomfort and pain associated with frequent IV access.
Increased Safety
Long-term venous access devices are associated with fewer complications than traditional IV catheters, reducing the risk of infection and other potential complications.
Potential Risks of Long-term Venous Access
Although long-term venous access devices offer many benefits, they also pose some potential risks, including:
Infection
Long-term venous access devices may increase the risk of bloodstream infections, particularly in patients with weakened immune systems.
Thrombosis
Long-term venous access devices may cause blood clots in the veins, leading to a potentially life-threatening condition called deep vein thrombosis (DVT).
Mechanical Complications
Long-term venous access devices may become dislodged, malfunction, or cause damage to surrounding tissues, leading to complications such as bleeding or nerve damage.
Providing safe and effective venous access procedures is our number one priority for our VIR specialists.
If you have questions about long-term venous access or believe you may benefit from this procedure, please contact Subang Jaya Medical Centre (SJMC) to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced VIR specialists. We are committed to providing our patients with the highest level of care and look forward to serving you.