Electrocardiographic guidance for percutaneous placement of central venous catheters.

A new technique is described for the percutaneous insertion of central venous catheters under direct ECG guidance, using the intraluminal column of saline solution as a transvenous electrode. This method is safe and allows the correct placement of the catheter tip in the superior vena cava, regardless of anatomic variations in the length of the central veins. It also identifies the aberrantly located catheter, thus preventing potential complications, such as irritation of the right ventricle by the catheter tip and extravascular infusion of solutes.