Central venous catheters.

Central venous catheterisation was first performed in 1929when Werner Frossman, a German doctor, inserted a ureteric catheter into his antecubital vein. He then walked to the radiography department so that the catheter could be guided into his right ventricle using fluoroscopy. Since then, central venous access has become amainstay of modern clinical practice. An estimated 200 000 central venous catheters were inserted in the United Kingdom in 1994, and the figure is probably even higher today. Clinicians frommost medical disciplines will encounter patients with these catheters. Despite the benefits of central venous lines to patients and clinicians, more than 15% of patients will have a catheter related complication. This review will provide an overview of central venous catheters and insertion techniques, and it will consider the prevention and management of common complications. What are central venous catheters?