title: Central venous catheters. Placement and monitoring tips.
abstract: Placement of a central venous catheter is not without risk. If the tip of the catheter either is inadvertently positioned within the heart or migrates into it, vascular erosions may develop and result in perforation and death. In this article, Dr Kahn gives the advantages and disadvantages of the usual routes of insertion and describes monitoring techniques. He also suggests methods of avoiding initial intracardiac placement.
authors.affiliation: Michigan Heart Group, Troy 48083.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Kahn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006335:Heart Injuries / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D012307:Risk Factors; D014950:Wounds, Penetrating / Q000209:etiology