What are BROVIAC® Catheters and HICKMAN® Catheter?
BROVIAC® catheters and HICKMAN® catheters are similar to a PICC line. They both allow a soft special type of rubber (silicone) IV catheter to be placed in your child without the need for repeated peripheral IV sticks. A BROVIAC® catheter, however, is placed directly into a central vein, usually in the neck, upper chest or groin. The catheter proceeds to a position just above the heart. In general, a BROVIAC® catheter is tunneled under the skin and brought out on the chest or thigh away from the site where it enters the vein. Theoretically, this prevents bacteria from gaining access to the central portion of the catheter. Finally, BROVIAC® catheters contain a “cuff” which is buried under the skin. Your child’s tissues will grow into this “cuff” and allow the catheter to become more stable, which will reduce the chance of it becoming pulled out.
