Tufts Anatomy Yr-1 |
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62 year old man with history of diabetes, central line placed to administer antibiotics for a foot infection
Can you see an artificial object on the left side of his chest? What vessel do you think was the target for placing this line?
A 'central line' is a thin plastic tube that is put into the body by inserting it through the skin and into a large vein. It is then threaded in until the tip is in the superior vena cava. The ideal vessel to use for this should be located close to the skin surface, but should also be close to the heart. Try to figure out what vessels fit this description.
CASE 1