What is a common reason for using Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs)?

Central Venous Access Devices (CVADs) are primarily employed for supplemental nutrition, particularly in cases where patients cannot meet their nutritional needs through oral or enteral routes. Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), which provides all necessary nutrients intravenously, often necessitates the use of a CVAD since the required solutions can be hypertonic and irritative to peripheral veins. CVADs allow for long-term administration of such infusions while minimizing complications like vein irritation and infiltration that could occur with peripheral access.

Other options, like temporary fluid replacement, are typically managed with peripheral intravenous lines, which are easier to place and remove for such short-term needs. Routine blood pressure monitoring generally utilizes non-invasive techniques or central lines without the necessity of a CVAD. While pain management can involve intravenous routes, it does not specifically necessitate central access unless the treatment is expected to be long-term or involves high-concentration solutions. Thus, supplemental nutrition is a defining and common use for CVADs due to its ability to support patients with complex nutritional needs safely and effectively.