Central Line

This article defines Central Lines to make sure we use the same definition in

• Iatrogenic, infection, central venous catheter-related bloodstream infection (CVC-BSI, CLI)
• QA Infection CLI
• Central Venous Catheter at 2300 (TISS Item)
• Central venous catheter (TISS Item)

CL means Central Line

• A CL is a #vascular access catheter that passes through or has a tip ending in one of the #great vessels.
• It may be used for infusion, blood sampling, or hemodynamic monitoring.
• It can be temporary, or long-term/permanent.

great vessel

• aorta
• pulmonary artery
• superior vena cava
• inferior vena cava
• brachiocephalic veins
• internal jugular veins
• subclavian veins
• external iliac veins
• common iliac veins
• femoral veins

vascular access catheter

• subclavian vein catheter
• internal jugular vein catheter
• PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter)
• Swan-Ganz (pulmonary artery) catheter
• Broviac
• Groshong
• Quinton
• Hickman
• ASHE catheter
• hemodialysis catheter (e.g. Vascath)
• implanted ports (e.g. Port-a-cath)
• central line introducer -- i.e. even if it does not have a central line in it
• introducer for a temporary pacing wire

Not counted as Central Lines:

• arterial catheters inserted into an artery
• ECMO
• IABP
• VAD; IMPELLA
• A-V fistula
• regular peripheral IVs
• any intravascular device that does not have a lumen (e.g. pacemaker wires)

Special Case - Code peripheral PICC lines

Kendiss Olafson confirmed that PICC lines that are noted on x-ray to be peripheral are still to be coded in our TISS as a central line. They still carry the same implications for nursing workload and have the same risk for infection, so for purposes of TISS and CL-BSI counting, these PICCs should be treated as central.--Michelle Lagadi--2015 September 16.

Special Case - unused implanted devices

An implanted device that is not used would only be counted beginning on the first day that it is accessed (e.g., physician orders that the port-a-cath be flushed). Then it would be counted every day there after. Template:Discussion

• Is that only for Central Line Counts or part of the definition when to consider a Central Line in general? Ttenbergen 20:07, 2017 September 12 (CDT) Ttenbergen 21:07, 2018 October 1 (CDT)

Not collected in CCI

We do not collect Central Line information in CCI because it is already coded in TISS. We realize we will not get the type of line used that way and that is OK. See also: List of CCI procedures we don't code