US Medical Term · emergency
Central Venous Catheter
Catéter venoso central
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Central Venous Catheter |
| Spanish (Español) | Catéter venoso central |
| Chinese (中文) | 中央靜脈導管 |
| Korean (한국어) | 중심 정맥 카테터 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Catheter tĩnh mạch trung tâm |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Central venous catheter |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cateter venoso central |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | สายสวนหลอดเลือดดำส่วนกลาง |
| Japanese (日本語) | 中心静脈カテーテル |
What it means
A central venous catheter (CVC), also called a central line, is a longer IV catheter inserted into a large vein near the neck, chest, or groin that reaches close to the heart. It is used when a patient needs multiple medications simultaneously, long-term IV access, certain monitoring, or when peripheral veins cannot be used. Placing a CVC is a sterile procedure done by a physician. It allows more reliable and stable access than a regular IV. Central lines carry risks including infection and blood clots, so hospital staff follow strict protocols to prevent complications. Your care team will remove the central line as soon as you no longer need it.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
The doctor placed a central line in my neck because I need several medications at once.
El médico me colocó un catéter venoso central en el cuello porque necesito varios medicamentos a la vez.
Is the central venous catheter different from a regular IV?
¿Es el catéter venoso central diferente a un suero regular?
My central line site looks red; I need to tell the nurse.
El sitio de mi catéter venoso central se ve rojo; necesito decírselo a la enfermera.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026