Patient Care Technician (PCT) AAH Practice Exam

A single lumen, indwelling catheter is NOT inserted into which of the following?

1. Jugular vein

2. Subclavian vein

3. Basilic vein

4. Superior vena cava

The correct answer is: Superior vena cava

A single lumen, indwelling catheter is specifically not inserted into the superior vena cava because this structure is primarily used as a terminal point for blood returning to the heart from the upper body, and tends to have specialized catheter types utilized for direct access, typically in more complex situations such as temporary central venous access. In clinical practice, catheters are often placed in peripheral veins (like the basilic vein) or into central veins (such as the jugular or subclavian veins) for various therapeutic and diagnostic purposes. These sites afford access to the systemic circulation for administering medications, fluids, and drawing blood. The superior vena cava may have catheters placed in proximity, but it is less common and generally involves multi-lumen or specialized central catheters for more complex cardiac monitoring and treatments. Thus, while venous access through the other options is standard, accessing the superior vena cava directly for a single lumen catheter does not align with typical clinical practice.