Central Venous Access in the Pediatric Patient Clinical Presentation

Updated: Feb 02, 2022
  • Author: Floriano Putigna, DO, FAAEM; Chief Editor: Eugene S Kim, MD, FACS, FAAP  more...
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Presentation

History and Physical Examination

The range of clinical presentations in patients receiving a central venous catheter (CVC) is broad. [11]  These patients may be hypovolemic or in shock with severely vasoconstricted peripheral sites. They may be oncology patients or may have bacteremia and require continuous intravenous (IV) access for prolonged periods, thereby requiring an accessible IV site.

Patients with bloodstream infections (BSIs) or catheter-related infections may have redness, exudate, swelling, or increased pain at the insertion site. If immunococmpromised, they may only have an elevated temperature or abnormal vital signs.