Central venous catheters (CVCs) are essential for delivering medications, nutrition, blood products, and more, especially when long-term or reliable venous access is needed. The two main types tunneled, and non-tunneled CVCs differ in design, placement, duration of use, and clinical indications. Choosing the right type is crucial for patient safety and treatment success.
When to Choose a Tunneled CVC
Indications:
- Need for long-term venous access (more than two weeks).
- Administration of chemotherapy, long-term antibiotics, parenteral nutrition, or frequent blood draws.
- Dialysis access for chronic kidney disease.
- Patients requiring frequent or continuous infusions at home.
Advantages:
- Reduced need for repeated needle sticks.
- Lower infection risk due to the tunnel and cuff.
- Can be used for multiple therapies simultaneously.
- Suitable for outpatient and home care.
Considerations:
- Requires a minor surgical procedure for placement.
- More expensive than non-tunneled CVCs.
- Patient or caregiver must be able to care for the device.
When to Choose a Non-Tunneled CVC
Indications:
- Need for short-term venous access (days to a few weeks).
- Emergency situations requiring rapid access.
- Hemodynamic monitoring or administration of irritant medications in acutely ill patients.
- Temporary dialysis access in acute kidney failure.
Advantages:
- Quick and easy to insert, suitable for emergencies.
- Less expensive and less invasive than tunneled catheters.
- Can be placed at the bedside with local anesthesia.
Considerations:
- Higher risk of infection if left in place too long.
- Must be replaced or removed within a short period (typically less than two weeks).
- Not suitable for home or long-term outpatient therapy.
Complications and Infection Risk
- Tunneled CVCs: Lower infection rates, especially beyond 10 days post-insertion; suitable for prolonged use.
- Non-Tunneled CVCs: Higher short-term infection risk, especially if used beyond recommended duration; best for short-term or emergency use.
When selecting the appropriate central venous catheter (CVC), it is important to consider the duration of use, infection risk, patient setting, and the specific clinical scenario. A tunneled CVC is recommended for patients who require central access for more than two weeks, particularly when outpatient or home-based therapy is anticipated or when minimizing infection risk is a priority. In contrast, a non-tunneled CVC is more suitable for short-term or emergent situations where central access is needed for less than two weeks and rapid, temporary access is required.
Explore our range of CVCs, customized to meet your unique requirements with a variety of configurations. Designed to satisfy the needs of both medical professionals and patients, our vascular access devices stand out as the best option. Please contact us today for more information and a custom quotation.
Health Line International Corp. is not responsible for any errors, omissions, injury, loss, or damage arising from or relating to the use (or misuse) of any information, statements, or conclusions contained in or implied by the contents of this document or any of the source materials. This content is not intended to replace professional medical advice.
References
Flick, A. et al., (2025, January- 2023, July 4) Vascular Tunneled Central Catheter Access. National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32491546/
Liang, E. et al., (2023, July 10) Central Venous Access Device and Site Selection. Radiologyinfo.org https://www.radiologyinfo.org/en/info/acs-central-venous-access
Morisi, N. et al., (2024, June 23) Evaluating Short-Term Outcomes of Tunneled and Non-Tunneled Central Venous Catheters in Hemodialysis. National Library of Medicine. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38999230/