A tunnelled central venous catheter for patients who need frequent, intensive intravenous treatment, blood sampling or transfusions.
What is hickman line insertion?
A tunnelled central venous catheter for patients who need frequent, intensive intravenous treatment, blood sampling or transfusions.
Approach
Tunnelled central line
Used for
Blood Cancers (Leukaemia & Lymphoma)
Where
Vesu, Surat
A Hickman line is a soft tube placed in a large vein in the chest and tunnelled under the skin, with one or more ends outside the body for direct access.
It is especially useful when treatment needs frequent or continuous infusions, several drugs at once, or regular blood tests and transfusions.
It is inserted as a planned procedure under local anaesthesia and sedation, and removed when no longer needed.
Potential benefits
Reliable access for intensive or continuous treatment
Multiple channels for drugs, transfusions and sampling
Avoids repeated needles in the arm
Important to know
Requires regular dressing and line care at home
Infection and clotting risks are monitored closely
Frequently asked
Questions patients ask
A port sits completely under the skin and suits long, intermittent treatment; a Hickman line has ends outside the body and suits frequent, intensive treatment. The team recommends the right one for your plan.
Where it applies
This approach may be considered for cancers such as these — always after individual evaluation.
