The Harborne Hospital
Mindelsohn Way B15 2FQ Birmingham
Vascular access procedures
INTRAVENOUS TREATMENTS FOR A RANGE OF CONDITIONS
An effective, precise way of delivering drugs directly into the blood stream and taking repeated blood samples
What are vascular access procedures?
Vascular access refers to a group of procedures that use a catheter to deliver drugs intravenously over a period of time.
It includes chemotherapy, long-term intravenous feeding, blood transfusions and dialysis. If your consultant needs to take repeated blood samples, they may use the same method.
Need to know
You might be offered sedation and you'll be given a local anaesthetic to numb the affected area. Once you're comfortable, your consultant puts a small, hollow tube (catheter) into a vein in your neck, leg or arm and guides it into one of the main veins leading to your heart.
They often do an X-ray or ultrasound scan to check that the catheter is in the right place. When they're confident it is, they start your treatment. Exactly what happens next depends on the type of treatment you're having but your consultant will either deliver medication, nutrients or blood into the catheter or use it to take blood.
Like all procedures, there may be some risks and side effects involved. Your consultants will explain these to you and tell you how to prepare. They may ask you to stop eating and drinking a few hours before your procedure.
You should be able to go home the same day as your treatment. However, you won't be able to drive so please arrange for someone to take you home. You should rest until the following day and avoid anything strenuous for a few days as the area where the catheter was inserted is likely to be bruised and sore.
Depending on the type of treatment you're having, you might keep your catheter in for days, weeks or months. Your consultant will talk to you about how to take care of it.
Paying for medical treatment
You don't need medical insurance to have fast access to our top consultants, extensive range of treatments, diagnostic tests and surgical procedures at our world-class facilities.
Our Vascular access procedures locations
The Wellington Hospital
8A Wellington Place NW8 9LE London
London Bridge Hospital
27 Tooley Street SE1 2PR London
The Harley Street Clinic
35 Weymouth Street W1G 8BJ London
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.