Internal jugular and upper extremity central venous access in interventional radiology: is a postprocedure chest radiograph necessary?
OBJECTIVE
The necessity of obtaining a postprocedure chest radiograph after central venous access using the upper extremity or internal jugular veins and interventional radiologic techniques was evaluated.


METHODS
A prospective study of 937 consecutive central venous access procedures in interventional radiology using the internal jugular veins or upper extremities was performed from June 1995 through September 1997. Established interventional radiologic techniques were used to place various ports (n = 34) and tunneled (n = 670) and nontunneled (n = 233) catheters. All catheters were positioned using fluoroscopy and readjusted if necessary before termination of the procedure. Afterward, a chest radiograph was obtained with the patient upright to evaluate catheter position and possible procedural complications. Procedural complications and manipulations or interventions that resulted from the radiographic findings were noted. In addition, nursing time for acquisition of the chest radiograph was recorded.


RESULTS
We found seven procedural complications (four air emboli, two pneumothoraces, one innominate vein laceration) significant enough to alter the patient's treatment. These complications were apparent during the examination. Postprocedure chest radiography failed to reveal any unknown complications and revealed only one catheter sufficiently malpositioned to require manipulation. The amount of nursing time to acquire postprocedure chest radiographs ranged from 8 to 40 min (mean, 23 min) per patient.


CONCLUSIONS
When imaging guidance and interventional radiologic techniques are used for upper extremity and internal jugular central venous access, performing postprocedure chest radiography yields little benefit.
Caridi
J G
JG
Department of Radiology, University of Florida College of Medicine, Gainesville 32610, USA.
West
J H
JH
Stavropoulos
S W
SW
Hawkins
I F
IF
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007601:Jugular Veins / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013902:Radiography, Thoracic; D015642:Radiology, Interventional / Q000379:methods*