Prolonged access to the venous system using the Hickman right atrial catheter.

Seventy-one Hickman catheters were inserted into 63 patients for prolonged access to the venous system. The mean catheter life was 98 days, but despite the long life in situ provided by these catheters only 5 (7%) had to be removed for septic complications. The technique of insertion is described and the subsequent management of these catheters discussed. The management of patients receiving parental nutrition, those undergoing bone marrow transplantation for acute leukaemia, and those having cytotoxic chemotherapy was greatly facilitated by the use of the catheter.