Hickman line

A Hickman line is a central venous catheter most often used for the administration of chemotherapy or other medications, as well as for the withdrawal of blood for analysis.

Robert O. Hickman, after whom the system is named, further modified the principles in 1979 with subcutaneous tunneling and a Dacron cuff that formed an infection barrier.

Potential complications of placement of such a line include hemorrhage and pneumothorax during insertion and thrombosis or infection at later stages.

Preventing contamination at the exit site and ensuring that the lumen is flushed frequently is especially important for oncology patients, as they may have become immunocompromised as a result of cytotoxic chemotherapy.

This symptom and others, including the observance of swelling or bleeding at the exit area, indicate the patient should seek medical attention as soon as possible.