Dr Pacilli delivers invited guest lecture at the 8th World Congress on Vascular Access in Prague

For decades, veins have been accessed with fine hollow tubes to deliver life-saving fluids and medications directly into the venous circulation. The venous circulation is divided anatomically into peripheral and central components. The central circulation is composed of all veins within the neck, chest and abdomen, including the subclavian and femoral veins; while the peripheral circulation encompasses the distal veins of the upper and lower limbs. This division is important when determining the most appropriate route of venous access for particular intravenous agents and the duration of intravenous therapy. Like the venous circulation itself, venous catheters are divided into peripheral and central catheters. This delineation is determined by the particular catheter’s site of termination, rather than its site of insertion. Peripheral catheters terminate distal to the subclavian and femoral vein and can only accommodate peripherally compatible agents. Dr Pacilli provided a comprehensive overview of the current issues and confusion surrounding the use of peripheral venous access in children.