Ultrasound-guided central venous access: which probe is preferred for viewing the subclavian vein using a supraclavicular approach?
BACKGROUND
Point-of-care ultrasound guidance using a linear probe is well established as a tool to increase safety when performing a supradiaphragmatic cannulation of the internal jugular central vein. However, little data exist on which probe is best for performing a supradiaphragmatic cannulation of the subclavian vein.


METHODS
This was a prospective, observational study at a single-site emergency department, where 5 different physician sonologists evaluate individual practice preference for visualization of the subclavian vein using a supraclavicular approach with 2 different linear probes and 1 endocavitary probe.


RESULTS
Of 155 patients enrolled, there was no clear preference any of the probes (P= .03). After pooling linear probe preference, there was a preference for either linear probe over the alternative endocavitary probe (76.8% vs 23.1%, P< .05).


CONCLUSIONS
We observed a preference for a linear probe over an endocavitary probe. Further investigation is necessary to determine which probe is optimal for this application.
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California. Electronic address: Slahham@uci.edu.
Shadi
S
Lahham
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California.
Sean P
SP
Wilson
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California.
Mohammad
M
Subeh
Tulane University Medical Center, New Orleans, Louisiana.
Michael
M
Butterfield
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California.
Abdelhafez R
AR
Albakri
University of California Irvine, Irvine, California.
Rame
R
Bashir
Department of Emergency Medicine, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California.
John C
JC
Fox
D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000379:methods*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009765:Obesity; D050177:Overweight; D019095:Point-of-Care Systems; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013851:Thinness; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000295:instrumentation*