What is Hickman Line Insertion?
A Hickman line is an extremely thin, long silicon catheter placed near the patient’s heart after travelling a long distance from one side of the chest. This procedure allows the simultaneous administration of multiple medicines through its 2-3 openings called lumens. Each lumen is tapped onto a needle-free connector, with a clamp along the line to control the flow of medication.
Hickman line insertion is performed for people undergoing chemotherapy, where frequent intravenous administration occurs, frequent blood donations or sample collections, during the direct central vein administration of medicine, long-term antibiotic administration, or people needing total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
| Procedure Name | Hickman line Insertion |
|---|---|
| Type of Surgery | Minor Surgery |
| Type of Anaesthesia | Local Anaesthesia |
| Procedure Duration | 20-40 Minutes |
| Recovery Duration | 2 Weeks |
Hickman line Insertion: Pre-Op & Post-Op Care
Pre-Surgical Preparations: Inform the surgeon about any allergies and medication before the treatment, especially blood-thinning medicines. The surgeon may perform blood and imaging tests in pregnancy and instruct the patient to fast before the surgery.
Procedure: The surgeon disinfects the site of insertion with an antiseptic, administers local anaesthesia, and makes two incisions on one side of the chest wall, creating a tunnel. Through this tunnel, the catheter is threaded and advanced into the subclavian vein, where the line is fixed onto the skin. An X-ray scan confirms the position.
Post-Surgery & Recovery Phase: Avoid extreme exercises to keep the line from falling out. Follow the dressing management instructions given by the instructor, like keeping the dressing clean and dry and changing the dressing and lumen caps regularly. Flush the Hickman line regularly to avoid any blockage. The Hickman line is removed after a few weeks to a few months.
Benefits of Hickman line Insertion at Yashoda Hospitals
- Reduces the pain and discomfort during the long-term treatments.
- Eliminates the need for constant needle puncturing.
- Allows large amounts of medications to be administered.
- Make the process of accessing the deeper veins much easier.
- Enhances treatment adherence.
















Appointment
WhatsApp
Call
More