More Effective Prevention of Incompatibility Reactions Through the Use of Four Lumen Central Venous Catheters in Critically Ill Patients

We evaluated potential practical benefits of the use of four lumen central venous catheters (CVCs) in critically ill patients in intensive care units (ICUs). Intensive care specialists assessed ease of handling during catheter insertion and ICU nurses determined whether adequate flow rates can be achieved with four lumen CVCs. We also determined to what extent strictly dedicated medication lumen use can reduce or eliminate compatibility problems when using four lumen CVCs. Quadruple lumen catheters meet ICU needs not adequately addressed with either triple or five lumen CVCs. Four lumen catheters are easy to handle and achieve the flow rates needed for specific indications and drugs. Compared with three lumen catheters, four lumen CVCs enable more strictly dedicated, well structured lumen use for TPN and drugs, thus significantly reducing compatibility problems. Facilitating catheter handling and reducing ICU costs, four lumen catheters may thus be a useful alternative to either triple or five lumen CVCs.