Patient Education: Vascular Access

Plain-language guides for patients and families on IV lines, catheters, infusion therapy, and vascular access care — what to expect, how to stay safe, and when to ask for help.

42 articles Updated Feb 2026

Subcutaneous Infusion (Hypodermoclysis): What to Expect

A patient guide to subcutaneous infusion (hypodermoclysis) — delivering fluids and medications under the skin instead of into a vein. How it works, who it's for, what can be given, site care, and what to expect.

Skin Care Around Your Catheter Site

How to protect and care for the skin around your vascular access catheter site — understanding skin reactions to adhesives and antiseptics, preventing medical adhesive-related skin injury, managing sensitive skin, and when skin changes need professional attention.

Recognizing Complications: When to Call for Help

A patient's guide to recognizing IV and catheter complications — including infiltration, phlebitis, infection, clotting, and air embolism — and knowing when and how to ask for help.

Quick Reference Cards: Vascular Access at a Glance

Quick reference cards for patients with vascular access devices — concise summaries of PICC care, port care, flush schedules, when to call versus go to the ER, signs of catheter infection, and emergency contacts. Designed to be printed and posted at home.

Questions to Ask Your Vascular Access Team

A curated list of questions for patients to ask their vascular access team — before a procedure, during a hospital stay, before going home, and for ongoing catheter care — organized for easy reference.

Preparing for Port Placement: What to Expect

A patient guide to preparing for implanted port placement — pre-operative instructions, what happens on the day of surgery, anesthesia options, recovery, incision care, and when the port can first be used.

Preparing for PICC Line Placement: What to Expect

A patient guide to preparing for PICC line placement — what happens before, during, and immediately after the procedure, what to wear, what to expect, and how to prepare to minimize anxiety and ensure a smooth experience.

Port Removal: What to Expect

What patients need to know about implanted port removal — why ports are removed, what the procedure involves, what to expect during recovery, and wound care after removal.

PICC Removal: What to Expect

A patient guide to PICC line removal — when and why PICCs are removed, what the procedure involves, what to expect immediately afterward, and when to seek help if something does not feel right.

Outpatient IV Antibiotics at Home (OPAT): Your Complete Guide

A complete patient guide to outpatient parenteral antibiotic therapy (OPAT) — going home on IV antibiotics, managing your infusions, understanding your medications, lab monitoring, completing your course, and knowing when to seek help.