Hazards of central venous pressure monitoring.

In shock syndromes, cannulation of the central veins has become standard practice. The procedure, although valuable, is not completely innocuous. Fatal complications as a result of perforation of the sinus coronarius with resultant cardiac tamponade, and a laceration of the subclavian artery are described, in addition to the previously reported complications encountered during such monitoring. It is of vital importance that the procedure be prescribed and supervised only by those who are thoroughly skilled in its use and that there be awareness of the early symptoms of cardiac tamponade when a venous catheter is in situ.