A vascular access procedure inserts a flexible, sterile plastic tube (catheter) into a blood vessel to allow blood to be drawn from or medication to be delivered to a patient's bloodstream over an extended period.
They may be used for:
- Intravenous (IV) antibiotic treatment
- Chemotherapy
- Long-term IV feeding
- Blood transfusions
Vascular access spares patients the stress of repeated needle sticks and provides a painless way to draw blood or deliver medication.