Ultrasound confirmation of guidewire position may eliminate accidental arterial dilatation during central venous cannulation.
BACKGROUND
Ultrasound guidance during central line insertion has significantly reduced complications associated with this procedure and has led to it being incorporated as standard of care in many institutions. However, inadvertent arterial penetration and dilation remains a problem despite ultrasound guidance and can result in significant morbidity and even mortality. Dynamic ultrasound confirmation of guidewire position within the vein prior to dilation may help to prevent and even eliminate this feared complication.


METHODS
A prospectively collected database of central line insertions for one author utilizing this novel technique was retrospectively reviewed for all incidents of arterial dilation over a period from September 2008 to January 2010.


RESULTS
During the study period 53 central lines were inserted with no incidents of arterial dilation.


CONCLUSIONS
Ultrasound confirmation of guidewire position has the potential to reduce or eliminate the morbidity and mortality of arterial dilation during central line placement.
Gillman
Lawrence M
LM
Department of Critical Care Medicine, University of Calgary, 1403 - 29 Street NW, Calgary, T2N 2T9, Canada. gillmanlm@yahoo.ca
Blaivas
Michael
M
Lord
Jason
J
Al-Kadi
Azzam
A
Kirkpatrick
Andrew W
AW
D020212:Carotid Artery Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016208:Databases, Factual; D006801:Humans; D019300:Medical Errors; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color; D014741:Video Recording / Q000379:methods