A survey of the use of portable ultrasound for central vein cannulation on critical care units in the UK.

A questionnaire was sent to 288 critical care units in the UK to assess the use of portable ultrasound machines to assist central vein cannulation. There was a 58% response rate. Ultrasound guidance was used by 36 (21.6%) units for central vein cannulation. Of these, only four (11.1%) used it routinely and 25 (69.4%) used it when faced with a difficult vein cannulation. Half of the units with ultrasound facilities may be using it suboptimally. Of those units not using ultrasound for central vein cannulation, 70 (53%) said it was because of lack of equipment and 51 (38.9%) did not think that it was necessary. Overall, over half of the units did not audit complications of central vein cannulation.