Real-time ultrasound detection of correct intravenous placement of central venous catheters after ultrasound cannulation.

Ultrasound-guided technique for central venous catheterization has been a widely developed procedure during the last decade. Nowadays, it is a common technique in the anaesthesiologist’s clinical practice. During the last six years, we usually have carried out central venous catheterization using the ultrasound-guided technique in our hospital. Moreover, we use to check correct intravenous placement of the catheter by using the ‘‘real-time’’ or ‘‘dynamic’’ ultrasound technique. We think this is an important part of the procedure sometimes forgotten by the anaesthetist. This simple manoeuvre has some benefits: to verify the intravenous placement of the catheter, to confirm if the catheter remains fixed to the vessel wall and also to check the potential injure and haematoma caused to the vein. This manoeuvre does not require change in the position of the probe used for cannulation, the catheter can be verified when both, long or short axis, approaches are employed. If superficial vein cannulation is performed (femoral, internal jugular), an ‘‘out of plane’’ approach using the short