Importance

Loading Importance Indicators...

Abstract

A central venous pressure catheter has a long flexible tube containing at least three channels or lumens. Toward the tip or distal end of the catheter are three ports in the wall of the tube each providing access to one of the lumens, respectively. An inflatable balloon, formed about the tube is located between a distal and a proximal of the ports and a balloon-inflating port lies within the balloon. The balloon is spaced away from the distal port by about 8 centimeters so that when the balloon is located in an upper region of the superior cava vein of an upright-positioned patient undergoing surgery of the head or neck, the balloon may be inflated just enough to raise the blood pressure at the site of the surgery to about equal that of the ambient atmosphere. There is thus no bleeding from cut veins and neither is there any tendency for cut veins to aspirate leading to an air induced embolism.

Loading the Abstract Image...

First Claim