Hickman line

A Hickman line two-lumen catheter inserted on the patient's left side. Scars at the base of the neck indicate the venotomy site and insertion point into the left jugular vein.

A Hickman line is a central venous catheter most often used for the administration of chemotherapy or other medications, as well as for the withdrawal of blood for analysis. Some types are used mainly for the purpose of apheresis or dialysis. They have also been used in total parenteral nutrition (TPN).[1] Hickman lines may remain in place for extended periods and are used when long-term intravenous access is required.

Long-term venous catheters became available in 1968, and the design was improved by Dr. John W. Broviac (b. 1942), a nephrologist based in East Lansing, Michigan, in 1973. Robert O. Hickman, after whom the system is named, further modified the principles in 1979 with subcutaneous tunneling and a Dacron cuff that formed an infection barrier. Dr. Robert O. Hickman (1927-2019) was a pediatric nephrologist at the Seattle Children's Hospital.

  1. ^ Buchman, Alan L.; Scolapio, James; Fryer, Jon (2003). "AGA technical review on short bowel syndrome and intestinal transplantation". Gastroenterology. 124 (4): 1111–1134. doi:10.1016/S0016-5085(03)70064-X. PMID 12671904.