title: The Groshong catheter: initial experience and early results of imaging-guided placement.
abstract: Fifty Groshong catheters were placed in 50 patients with use of ultrasound (US) and fluoroscopic guidance in the radiology suite: 49 were placed via the subclavian vein and one was placed via the left internal jugular vein. All (100%) attempts at catheter placement were successful. Imaging guidance affected the placement of catheters in 12 cases (24%), including four patients (8%) in whom vascular access would not have been possible with blinded percutaneous venipuncture or surgical cutdown. After a four-case learning curve period, during which one pneumothorax (2%) and two arterial punctures (4%) occurred, there were no further venipuncture-related complications. One catheter was removed because of infection (2%) and one because of allergic reaction (2%) to the antimicrobial cuff. Four patients with cutaneous infections and one with catheter-related sepsis were successfully treated with antibiotics. Results demonstrate the initial promise of imaging-guided placement of central venous access catheters when performed in the radiology suite.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Naval Hospital, San Diego, CA 92134-5000.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Hull
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Hunter
authors.forename: G A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Luiken
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D002648:Child; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008875:Middle Aged; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography