Establishment of intravenous lines for long-term intravenous therapy and monitoring.

Our experience at this institution indicates that the greater the individual and the institutional experience, the lower the complications of central venous lines. The techniques of double catheter insertions in one vein or region, as described, are safe, cost-effective, and useful. These catheters can remain in place for up to 8 weeks. Insertion of double catheters is ideal for intravenous feeding to avoid premixing amino acids and glucose, thus minimizing the hazards of contamination as well as saving time and cost for mixing. Special unconventional techniques for vascular access when indicated in patients who have limited accessible sites may be lifesaving. Except for fibrinous clots around the catheters, the complications in our series have diminished as our experience has grown. Vascular access techniques and long-term care should be formally taught to committed individuals. Well-trained, concerned, experienced personnel available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week is the most important factor in the reduction of complications of vascular access technique and the long-term maintenance of intravenous lines.