Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
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This page describes products and general use; it is not medical advice.
A Groshong catheter is a central venous catheter with a built-in pressure-sensitive valve near its closed tip. This page is for clinic staff, supply buyers and students who need to know what the product is, how its valve behaves, and which variants and sizes are documented in public regulatory and manufacturer sources.
What a Groshong catheter is
A Groshong catheter (also called a Groshong line) is a silicone central venous catheter. The FDA clearances cited below are held by Bard Access Systems, and BD lists the family as a non-power-injectable central venous catheter. According to the FDA 510(k) summary for the Groshong NXT PICC, it provides short-term (under 30 days) or long-term (over 30 days) peripheral access to the central venous system for intravenous therapy or blood sampling. It is a device for clinical teams; clinic staff, buyers and students use this page as a product reference. For the wider device category, see our guide to the central venous catheter.
How the Groshong valve works
The Groshong valve is a 3-position, pressure-sensitive valve located near the closed, rounded, radiopaque tip, as described in the FDA 510(k) summary K201452. Instead of an open end, the valve opens only in response to pressure.
| Condition | Valve position | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Positive pressure (infusion) | Opens outward | FDA 510(k) K201452; BD product page |
| Negative pressure (aspiration) | Opens inward | FDA 510(k) K201452; BD product page |
| Neutral pressure | Remains closed | BD product page |
The summary states the valve is designed to remain closed between -7 and 80 mm Hg. Normal superior vena cava pressure of 0 to 5 mm Hg therefore keeps it closed, which the summary says prevents blood backflow and air embolism. The same summary states heparin is unnecessary because the closed valve keeps blood from clotting inside the catheter (per the 510(k) summary; this page gives no dosing). BD itself claims decreased flushing frequency and simplified routine maintenance; that is a manufacturer claim.
Types and variants of the Groshong line
BD lists these configurations on its Groshong central venous catheter product page (checked 2026-10-30):
- Single lumen and dual lumen catheters.
- Versions with the SureCuff Tissue Ingrowth Cuff and a peel-apart introducer.
- Accessories: replacement connectors and CVC repair kits.
The Groshong NXT is a PICC (peripherally inserted central catheter). For that category, see what a PICC line is. The dual lumen PICC clearance (K023374) describes a Groshong valve in each lumen, with the valves staggered, so that incompatible solutions can be infused and blood aspirated simultaneously. Longer-term access devices that sit under the skin are covered in what an implanted port is.
Sizes and specifications
| Variant | Size | Lumens | Length | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Groshong NXT PICC | 4 Fr (18 gauge) | Single | 60 cm, trimmable | FDA 510(k) K201452 (decision 2021-03-12) |
| Groshong NXT dual lumen PICC | 5 Fr | Dual | 45 or 55 cm | FDA 510(k) K023374 (decision 2002-12-18) |
Other documented details from K201452: a 65-durometer radiopaque silicone shaft with a 40-durometer silicone tip, a priming volume of 0.24 mL, and ethylene oxide sterilization validated to ANSI/AAMI ISO 11135:2014. K023374 describes a reverse-taper silicone catheter with a closed, rounded, radiopaque atraumatic tip, a bifurcation with suture wings compatible with Statlock, and red and white luer lock connectors. Sizes for other Groshong configurations should be taken from the manufacturer’s instructions for use.
Safe use and handling basics
Both clearances describe devices supplied sterile. Any use, flushing or maintenance follows the manufacturer’s instructions for use and the facility’s protocols; this page does not give procedure steps. Because any central line carries infection risk, see the CLABSI prevention bundle for the hospital-level context.
Facilities stocking these devices can browse IV catheters as a general category.
FAQ
What is a Groshong line?
A Groshong line is another name for a Groshong catheter: a silicone central venous catheter whose closed tip carries a pressure-sensitive valve instead of an open end.
What is a Groshong valve?
It is the 3-position valve near the catheter tip. It opens outward under positive pressure, inward under negative pressure, and stays closed otherwise (FDA 510(k) K201452; BD).
Sources
Each link below is the full address of the source; dates are the date checked.
- BD, Groshong Central Venous Catheter product family (https://bd.com/en-ca/products-and-solutions/products/product-families/groshong-central-venous-catheter), checked 2026-10-30.
- FDA 510(k) K201452, Groshong NXT PICC, Bard Access Systems, decision 2021-03-12, checked 2026-10-30 via a mirror of the FDA summary (https://fda.innolitics.com/device/K201452).
- FDA 510(k) K023374, Groshong NXT dual lumen PICC, C.R. Bard, decision 2002-12-18, checked 2026-10-30 via a mirror of the FDA summary (https://fda.innolitics.com/device/K023374).
