📖 Overview
Central venous access devices provide reliable, safe, and comfortable long-term intravenous access for chemotherapy, prolonged antibiotic therapy, parenteral nutrition, or frequent blood sampling. At Cochin AP-HP, all devices are inserted by interventional radiologists under ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance, ensuring precise placement and minimising complications.
All procedures are performed under local anaesthesia in our day procedure unit. No patient fees — French public hospital.
⚡ At a glance — key figures
Long-term venous access — PICC lines and Port-a-Cath devices — is placed by interventional radiologists under imaging guidance to allow safe, repeated delivery of chemotherapy, antibiotics or nutrition over weeks to years.
| Criterion | Data |
|---|---|
| PICC line duration | Weeks to a few months |
| Port-a-Cath duration | Months to years |
| Placement | Local anaesthesia (with sedation for Port-a-Cath), ultrasound and X-ray guidance, day case |
| Cost | Yes. At Cochin AP-HP (a French public hospital), this procedure is covered by national health insurance with no out-of-pocket fees. Contact ri.cch@aphp.fr or +33 1 58 41 46 12. |
Data validated by the team of Prof. Anthony Dohan, Department of Interventional Radiology, Cochin Hospital AP-HP.
🔧 Available devices
💉 PICC Line
Peripherally inserted central catheter — inserted via the basilic or cephalic vein at the upper arm. Suitable for 3–12 months. No theatre, no general anaesthesia. Ultrasound-guided insertion at the bedside or in the day unit.
🔴 Port-a-Cath (Implantable Port)
Subcutaneous port chamber connected to a central venous catheter. Ideal for prolonged chemotherapy (years). Accessed via non-coring needle through the skin. Minor day-case procedure under local anaesthesia.
🔵 Tunnelled Central Venous Catheter
Broviac, Hickman, or Groshong type. Tunnelled subcutaneously from chest wall to internal jugular or subclavian vein. Long-term access for haematology or haemodialysis.
📊 Ultrasound + Fluoroscopic guidance
All insertions performed under real-time ultrasound guidance for venous puncture, and fluoroscopy for central tip position confirmation. Tip positioned at cavo-atrial junction (SVC-RA).
❓ FAQs
❓ Frequently asked questions
🔗 Related pages
✓ Why this page is trustworthy
Written by the Interventional Radiology team at Cochin Hospital AP-HP, Université Paris Cité. Medically reviewed by an interventional radiologist of the department. Last updated: August 2026.