title: An Evaluation of Complications in Ultrasound-Guided Central Venous Catheter Insertion in the Emergency Department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In emergency departments, emergency physicians frequently have to perform central venous access. In cases where peripheral venous access is not possible, central venous access is required for dialysis, fulfillment of urgent fluid need, or central venous pressure measurement. This study was carried out to evaluate the emergence of complications in the process of and in the 15 days following the insertion of central venous catheter under ultrasound guidance in the emergency department.
  
  
  METHODS
  For this study, patients who presented to the emergency department over a period of eight months with an urgent need for central catheter were examined prospectively. Age, gender, and accompanying diseases of patients as well as the type, time, duration, and indication of the venous access were recorded. Furthermore, the amount of experience of the physician was taken into consideration.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the emergency department, physicians performed ultrasound-guided central venous catheter insertion for 74 patients (40 men and 34 women). For access, internal jugular vein was used in 65 (87.8%) patients, and femoral vein was used in 9 (12.2%) patients. The reason for access was urgent dialysis need in 55 (74.3%), CVP measurement in 3 (4.1%), fluid support due to severe hypovolemia in 6 (8.1%), and difficulty of peripheral venous access in 10 (13.5%) patients. None of the patients developed complications in the process of or after the insertion. Patients did not have infections related to the catheter in 15 days following the insertion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Central venous access is frequently required in emergency departments. The risk of complication is little if any in ultrasonographyguided access carried out under appropriate conditions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir.
authors.forename: Engin
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ozakin
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir.
authors.forename: Rumeysa
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Can
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir.
authors.forename: Nurdan
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Acar
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir.
authors.forename: Filiz
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baloglu Kaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir.
authors.forename: Arif Alper
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Cevik
keywords: Central venous catheter; emergency department; ultrasound-guided