Tomasz Czarnik1, Ryszard Gawda2, Jakub Nowotarski3. 1. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, PS ZOZ Wojewodzkie Centrum Medyczne w Opolu, Aleja Witosa 26, 45-418, Opole, Poland. Electronic address: tczarnik@mac.com. 2. Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, PS ZOZ Wojewodzkie Centrum Medyczne w Opolu, Aleja Witosa 26, 45-418, Opole, Poland. 3. Department of Operations Research, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wybrzeze Wyspianskiego 27, 50-370 Wroclaw, Poland.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to define the venipuncture and catheterization success rates and early mechanical complication rates of ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed in-plane, real-time, ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary vein catheterizations under emergency and nonemergency conditions in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients. RESULTS: We performed 202 cannulation attempts. One hundred and twenty-six procedures (62.4%) were performed under emergency conditions. The puncture of the axillary vein was successful in 98.5% of patients, and the entire procedure success rate was 95.1% (95% confidence interval, 91.1%-97.6%). For the majority of patients (84.1%; P<.001, exact test), the venipuncture occurred during the first attempt. We noted a 22.4% overall complication rate, and most of the complications were malpositions (13.4%). We observed 8.5% of cases with potentially serious complications (puncture of the axillary artery and needle contact with the brachial plexus) and 1 case (0.5%) of pneumothorax. The puncture of the axillary artery occurred in 5 (2.5%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: In-plane, real-time, ultrasound-guided, infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation in mechanically ventilated, critically ill patients is a safe and reliable method of central venous cannulation and can be considered to be a reasonable alternative to other central venous catheterization techniques.
PURPOSE: The main purpose of this study was to define the venipuncture and catheterization success rates and early mechanical complication rates of ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed in-plane, real-time, ultrasound-guided infraclavicular axillary vein catheterizations under emergency and nonemergency conditions in mechanically ventilated, critically illpatients. RESULTS: We performed 202 cannulation attempts. One hundred and twenty-six procedures (62.4%) were performed under emergency conditions. The puncture of the axillary vein was successful in 98.5% of patients, and the entire procedure success rate was 95.1% (95% confidence interval, 91.1%-97.6%). For the majority of patients (84.1%; P<.001, exact test), the venipuncture occurred during the first attempt. We noted a 22.4% overall complication rate, and most of the complications were malpositions (13.4%). We observed 8.5% of cases with potentially serious complications (puncture of the axillary artery and needle contact with the brachial plexus) and 1 case (0.5%) of pneumothorax. The puncture of the axillary artery occurred in 5 (2.5%) patients. CONCLUSIONS: In-plane, real-time, ultrasound-guided, infraclavicular axillary vein cannulation in mechanically ventilated, critically illpatients is a safe and reliable method of central venous cannulation and can be considered to be a reasonable alternative to other central venous catheterization techniques.