Central venous access devices (CVADs) are used within a variety of areas in both hospital and community health care settings to administer blood or fluids, to provide long term access for repeat transfusion of blood or blood products, chemotherapy, parenteral nutrition and antibiotic therapy, and to provide immediate access in emergency situations.

Central venous access devices is a practical guide to the care and management of CVADs aimed at student nurses, newly qualified nurses and more experienced nurses who are unfamiliar in dealing with these devices.

Central venous access devices addresses patient assessment and education, relevant anatomy and physiology, appropriate device selection, and guidelines on insertion, follow-up care and management of CVADs. Each category of CVAD - including peripherally inserted central catheters, non tunnelled central venous catheters, skin tunnelled catheters and implanted ports - is explored in turn. Concluding chapters explore hazards of insertion, prevention and management of complications, and patient perspectives on living with a CVAD