About Hemophilia Hemophilia Facts
Types Of Venous Access
For people with hemophilia, the options for venous access — using a needle placed into a vein to administer factor — fall into two broad categories. Each type has advantages and disadvantages.
As you and your healthcare team make decisions about which type is right for you, it is important first to understand some basic information about the different options.
Peripheral Venous Access
Peripheral venous access involves infusing into the peripheral veins. Peripheral veins are veins away from the central part of the body, such as in the arms or hands. Peripheral venous access is strongly encouraged in the Consensus Recommendations, if veins are adequate and if the patient is old enough.1
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Most people using peripheral venous access use butterfly needles. With this method, a single needle is used for each treatment, and then removed. This means that nothing remains under the skin — which results in reduced risk of infection and increased freedom.
A new needle must be reinserted each time treatment is needed. For people receiving frequent infusions or who have very small veins, the repeated sticks required for peripheral venous access can be a disadvantage.
Central Venous Access1
Central Venous Access refers to infusing factor and other medications using large veins near the heart. Central venous access devices (CVADs) are medical devices, inserted by a doctor, which allow factor and other medications to be delivered into one of these large veins.
A hemophilia healthcare professional may recommend CVADs for a young child, because small veins and lack of cooperation can make repeated needle sticks difficult. CVADs may also be useful when urgent infusions are needed. Once a CVAD is implanted in the body, it may be used to administer factor for months or even years.
However, having an implanted device does have some disadvantages. With CVADs, there is an increased risk of infection and blood clots. CVAD care can be complex and require significant training. There is also risk of the device breaking or malfunctioning.
For all of these reasons, the Consensus Recommendation suggests that CVADs be used only when peripheral access is not feasible and only for as long as medically necessary.
Note: ThereForYou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
References
- Ewenstein BM, Valentino LA, Journeycake JM, Tarantino MD, Shapiro AD, Blanchette VS, et al. Consensus recommendations for use of central venous access devices in haemophilia. Haemophilia 2004;10:629-48
