IV classification

Midlines are considered a peripheral IV. You should never run TPN or any vesicants through it. Also you should not draw blood from it. Picc lines are central lines because the tip is in the SVC. Port-a-caths are central lines because the tip is in the SVC. Many oncology patients have ports because some chemotherapy agents are vesicants and you need a central access for them. Also for ports you should always have a good blood return before you use them. If you don't then you might need cathflo or a dye study to check the catheter. Since the port is under the skin the catheter can fracture and if this happens the port needs to be removed right away.

Agree with cupcake. There are lots of ways to classify catheters but a simple way is peripheral and central and that has to do with where the tip lies. A PIV is 3 inches or less...a midline is greater than 3 inches with its tip lying in the upper third of the arm. A CVC can futher be classified as tunnelled,non-tunnelled.percuataneous placed such as in PICCs and temporary CVCs accessed at the jugular.subcalvian and femerol areas and Ports.