Table 1.

Types and uses of current prevailing venous access devices

TYPE OF DEVICE	WHEN TO USE	WHEN TO AVOID
Peripheral devices
•PIV	For short-term access (up to 96 hours)	When access is needed for more than a few days
•Midline catheter	Rarely used because of growing popularity of PICCs	When access is needed for longer than 1 month or when vesicant medications are involved
Central devices
•PICC	For medium-term access (up to 6 months) and especially for antibiotics, TPN, chemotherapy, transfusions, and frequent blood sampling	When long-term (or permanent) access is required Not recommended for dialysis (or predialysis) patients
•Non-tunneled central catheter	For short-term access when PIV is not suitable, and especially for resuscitation and central venous pressure monitoring	When access is required for more than a few days (use a tunneled catheter instead)
•Tunneled central catheter	For frequent long-term access, and especially for TPN, transfusions, and frequent blood sampling Can be used when PICC line is contraindicated or not possible	When access of shorter duration is required (consider an implantable port if access is to be less frequent)
•Implantable port	For infrequent access on a long-term basis or when lifestyle concerns make one of the other options less appealing	When venous access is regularly required (frequent needle pokes would be uncomfortable for the patient)

PICC—peripherally inserted central catheter, PIV—peripheral intravenous, TPN—total parenteral nutrition.