Broviac Central Line

CVLs make treatments easier for your child. Because the catheter is in a large vein, chemo treatments won’t irritate or damage the vein, like they could in smaller, arm veins. Your child will also be able to have both hands free during treatments. CVLs often mean fewer needles for your child.

Explain the surgery to your child, in a way that she will understand (‘The doctor is going to place a special 
tube in a blood vessel in your chest, to make it easier to give you your medicine. You’ll have medicine to 
put you in a deep sleep during the operation, and you’ll wake up when it’s over’). Tell your child that he’ll 
be able to see the catheter, tubing and dressing, but that this is OK.

You will get a call about your appointment time and any instructions before the surgery.

The CVL can stay in place for months or even years. Your child will have it in place for 3 to 6 months after the last treatment.

When your child needs a treatment, the nurse will:

• hook up IV tubing to the CVL catheter (one or two  lumens may be used)
• give the treatment (for example, chemotherapy  or blood)
• flush the lines with heparin (heparin prevents the CVL from getting blocked)
• keep the catheter lines clamped when not in use 

A specially trained nurse will change the exit site dressing and catheter caps every six or seven days or when needed.

Your child or youth can go back to many everyday activities. Please tell us about the activities 
and sports your child takes part in. We can help decide if some activities should be on hold 
while the CVL is in place. To protect the CVL exit site, catheter and tubing:

• Avoid rough play and sports (to prevent hits to the CVL area).
• Keep the catheter and tubing taped to your child’s chest.
• Do not allow your child to go swimming. The CVL and exit site should not get wet, so your child cannot go swimming. Talk with the clinic nurse about how to keep the CVL dressing dry when your child showers or takes a bath.

Children and youth can have mixed feelings about having a CVL.It can make their treatment easier, but they might feel funny at first having a tube coming out of their chest. Our staff will help your child cope with feelings by:

• listening
• reminding them that all their feelings are OK
• helping them to express their feelings in words or through play
• sharing ways to think and to relax to feel better about things