Central Venous Line (CVL)

The benefits of a CVL over peripheral access include: longer use of the line with lower risk of infection, and the ability to utilize multiple tubes for administration of medication and fluids. Placement of a CVL is a common procedure; the complications, however, can be potentially life-threatening. Thus the patient and family should be made aware of the risks and benefits of CVL

Possible Complications

• Local site or systemic infection
• Pneumothorax: (air in the chest)
• Hemothorax (blood in the chest): A chest X-Ray must be checked for evidence of a hemothorax. If evidence of this is found, a surgical consult for potential chest tube placement is mandatory. 
• Catheter-related thrombosis (clot formation): This complication may lead to pulmonary embolism.

Examples of possible medical negligence:

• The above mentioned are known complications and tend to happen at varying frequency. Good technique and follow up chest X-Ray however can reduce the incidence of these complications and their consequences. Thus failure to diagnose and treat the above mentioned complications may constitute deviation from the medical standard of care.