Vascular Access Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department

Guidelines for Choosing Catheter Sizes in the Emergency Department

	Neonate < 1 month 2.5-5 kg	Infant 1-12 months 5-10 kg	Toddler 13-36 months 10-20 kg	Young Child 3-8 years 15-25 kg	Older Child 8-12 years 20-50 kg	Adolescent 13-18 years 40-70 kg	Adult 18+ years > 70 kg
Traditionally-placed Peripheral IV (G)	24	24-22	24-22	24-22	22	22-20	20-16
US guided Peripheral IV (G)^*	24	24-22	24-22	24-22	22	22-20	20-16
Central Line (Fr x cm)	3 x 8	3 x 8	5 x 7.5 Cordis	5 x 7.5 Cordis	8.5 x 8.89 Trauma Kit	8.5 x 8.89 Trauma Kit	8.5 x 8.89 Trauma Kit
Arterial Catheter (G x cm)	24 x 2.5	24 x 2.5	24 x 5	24 x 5	24 x 5	22 x 5	22 x 5

*Catheter length dependent on vessel size and insertion depth

Central Venous Vessel Diameter (not for arteries)

Gauge or French	24G	22G	2.5F	3F	4F	5F	7F	9F	12F
Catheter diameter (cm)	0.07	0.09	0.08	0.1	0.13	0.17	0.23	0.3	0.4
Minimal vessel diameter (cm)	0.14	0.18	0.16	0.2	0.26	0.34	0.46	0.6	0.8

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The clinical pathways are based upon publicly available medical evidence and/or a consensus of medical practitioners at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (“CHOP”) and are current at the time of publication. These clinical pathways are intended to be a guide for practitioners and may need to be adapted for each specific patient based on the practitioner’s professional judgment, consideration of any unique circumstances, the needs of each patient and their family, and/or the availability of various resources at the health care institution where the patient is located.

Accordingly, these clinical pathways are not intended to constitute medical advice or treatment, or to create a doctor-patient relationship between/among The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (“CHOP”), its physicians and the individual patients in question. CHOP does not represent or warrant that the clinical pathways are in every respect accurate or complete, or that one or more of them apply to a particular patient or medical condition. CHOP is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the clinical pathways, or for any outcomes a patient might experience where a clinician consulted one or more such pathways in connection with providing care for that patient.