Intravenous Access Device
A system for giving drugs directly into a large vein near the heart. It is used particularly for chemotherapy drugs (which can damage smaller veins), blood or nutrition (intravenous feeding). It may also be used to take blood samples. Cook’s catheter and Hichman’s catheter are two forms of intravenous access device. Porta cath is the trade name for a form of intravenous access device carried on the patient’s body. Also known as drug delivery system, central venous catheter, central line.