A central venous catheter, which is also called a central line, is a tube that doctors place in a large vein in the neck, chest, groin, or arm to give fluids, blood, or medications or to do medical tests rapidly.

A central line is essential when you need drugs given through your veins over a long period of time, or when you required a kidney dialysis. In these cases, a central line is easier and less painful than having needles put in your veins every time you need therapy.

Central venous catheters are used to give long-term medical treatment for pain, infection, or cancer, or to supply nutrition. A central venous catheter can be left in place far longer than an intravenous catheter (IV), which gives medicines into a vein near the skin surface.

A central venous catheter can stay for weeks or months, and some patients receive treatment through the line several times a day.