BACKGROUND: At the time of inserting a central catheter, it is recommended to check that its distal tip is positioned outside the heart cavities. Our objective was to determine the degree of fulfillment of this recommendation. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional study on patients carrying a central venous catheter who were admitted to conventional areas of a university hospital. We considered as "risk catheter" any catheter whose distal tip was located within the cardiac cavities. RESULTS: 34 out of 362 hospitalized patients had a central venous catheter. Fifty per cent of them were found to have a "risk catheter". In spite of its X-ray confirmation, no patient underwent a subsequent modification of the distal tip position. CONCLUSIONS: We have noticed a high percentage of patients with central venous catheters whose insertion supposed a cardiovascular risk. Unawareness of the serious complications that may arise from this fact probably justifies a high prevalence of misplacements.
BACKGROUND: At the time of inserting a central catheter, it is recommended to check that its distal tip is positioned outside the heart cavities. Our objective was to determine the degree of fulfillment of this recommendation. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Cross-sectional study on patients carrying a central venous catheter who were admitted to conventional areas of a university hospital. We considered as "risk catheter" any catheter whose distal tip was located within the cardiac cavities. RESULTS: 34 out of 362 hospitalized patients had a central venous catheter. Fifty per cent of them were found to have a "risk catheter". In spite of its X-ray confirmation, no patient underwent a subsequent modification of the distal tip position. CONCLUSIONS: We have noticed a high percentage of patients with central venous catheters whose insertion supposed a cardiovascular risk. Unawareness of the serious complications that may arise from this fact probably justifies a high prevalence of misplacements.