title: External jugular venous catheterization with a Groshong catheter for central venous access.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Groshong catheter (GC) is commonly used as a peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC), and the external jugular vein (EJV) is not a common route for central venous access (CVA). Therefore, external jugular venous catheterization (EJVC) using a GC is rare. However, our experience has shown that this procedure is safe and simple for CVA.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess the utility of EJVC using the GC for CVA.
  
  
  METHODS
  CVA was done using a GC via the EJV with a single puncture employing the maximal barrier precaution technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between March 2005 and June 2007, we attempted to perform EJVC using a GC via the EJV for 331 patients. Among of these patients, 301 patients received successful catheterization (success rate: 301/331 = 90.9%). The total period of catheter insertion was 4601 days, and the mean insertion period was 15.1 days (range 2-147 days). The main complications of catheter insertion were malposition (8/301; 2.7%) and, oozing or hematoma formation (8/301; 2.7%). There were no severe complications such as nerve injury, pneumothorax or arterial bleeding.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our experience demonstrates that EJVC using the GC is acceptable for CVA.
authors.affiliation: Department of Gastroenterological Surgery, Dokkyo Medical University, Tochigi, Japan. mm-ishizuka@umin.ac.jp
authors.forename: Mitsuru
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ishizuka
authors.forename: Hitoshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nagata
authors.forename: Kazutoshi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takagi
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
mesh_terms: D002404:Catheterization; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D006801:Humans; D007601:Jugular Veins