title: A new infraclavicular landmark-based approach to the axillary vein as an alternative method of central venous cannulation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We developed the new technique of the axillary vein catheterization, which is connected with the determination of only two anatomical points of reference for puncture site identification. The primary outcome of this study was to determine the rate of successful catheterizations and the assessment of procedure success rate, depending on cannulation side as well as physician experience. The secondary objective was to evaluate the early complication rate and to determine whether this method can be used in clinical practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  The methodology of this prospective, cohort study included catheterization of the axillary vein via the infraclavicular approach. All procedures were performed by the first two authors, each of whom had different levels of experience with the technique. The choice of the cannulation side was based on clinical factors, and the technique was identical on the right and left sides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The cannulation success rate reached 85.6% (N = 153). The correlation between physician experience and the procedure success rate as well as between cannulation side and procedure success rate were not significant. A common early complication was a puncture of axillary artery (14.4%) with the following proper cannulation in the majority of patients (77.3%, p&lt;0.01, exact test).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The procedure success rate, 85.6% (95% CI [80.0, 91.2%]), is comparable to other landmark-based techniques of the central vein cannulation. The moderately high percentage of axillary artery puncture points out that the approach should be used only as an alternative method to the central vein catheterization.
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, PS ZOZ Wojewodzkie Centrum Medyczne w Opolu, Opole - Poland.
authors: Ryszard
authors: R
authors: Gawda
authors: Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, PS ZOZ Wojewodzkie Centrum Medyczne w Opolu, Opole - Poland.
authors: Tomasz
authors: T
authors: Czarnik
authors: Department of Operations Research, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw - Poland.
authors: Rafal
authors: R
authors: Weron
authors: Department of Operations Research, Wroclaw University of Technology, Wroclaw - Poland.
authors: Jakub
authors: J
authors: Nowotarski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D059925:Anatomic Landmarks; D001367:Axillary Vein; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling; D062905:Central Venous Catheters; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D059032:Learning Curve; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011677:Punctures; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D055815:Young Adult