Cannulation of the internal jugular vein - 500 cases.

Five hundred consecutive cases of internal jugular vein catheterization are presented. The success rate varied from 88% to infants under 1 year of age to 99% in adults. There were 16 arterial punctures (3.2%). In one patient surgical removal of a haematoma was necessary. No pneumothorax occurred. Compared to other techniques for central venous catheterization, the internal jugular vein approach gives a high incidence of correct catheter positions and few complications, and is thus recommended.