incidences in the landmark group of carotid artery puncture (10.6%), hemothorax (1.7%), and pneumothorax (2.4%) greater than most anesthesiologists would accept. Thus it is not surprising that meta-analysis of these disparate studies (which have not been scored by traditional methods to assess for bias and scientific rigor) would find statistical significance only in success of line insertion. ...

The central venous catheter (CVC) is associated with numerous complications more so during the process of insertion. We report for the first time how an indwelling catheter was entrapped by a replacement catheter on the same side, after being speared by the introducer needle and guidewire. The diagnosis was made when there was difficulty in removing the old catheter. Subsequently, interventiona...

A fractured central venous catheter (CVC) with embolization of the distal fragment may lead to life-threatening complications. We had inserted a right subclavian CVC in a 68-year-old female which upon a follow-up chest X-ray appeared to have been sheared. A guidewire was inserted through the CVC until the J-tip was just beyond the tip of the CVC which were then withdrawn as a single assembly. W...

Percutaneous Central Venous Catheter (CVC) insertion using internal jugular and Subclavian veins routes is common procedure for all intensive care admitted patients and some patients in the ward as demand arises in central and referral hospitals of Botswana. This is a case report of a patient on whom a third attempt of re-inserting a CVC for fluid and total parenteral nutrition (TPN) was made. ...

Percutaneous insertion of central venous catheter (CVC) is a valuable procedure in managing critically ill patients. However, placement of CVC is not without its complications. The author reports a case in which a CVC was inserted into the right pleural cavity which was not detected by the usual clinical methods of confirming catheter placement and an antero-posterior (A-P) chest x-ray.

Infections and technical problems are the most frequent complications when using implantable central venous access devices in patients with haemophilia. There are two major experiences reported concerning infections in noninhibitor patients: one is approximately 0.2 infections per 1000 days and the other approximately 1.0 (0.7-1.6) per 1000 days. Infections are more frequent in inhibitor patien...

Three patients are described who developed hydrothorax as a complication of central venous catheterization. Respiratory distress associated with physical signs of fluid in the chest should arouse suspicion that the venous catheter has perforated the wall of the vein.The complications of central venous catheterization are reviewed and three cases of hydrothorax are presented. Comments on the pre...

Central venous catheterization is a critical component of management for the critically ill patient in the operating room and intensive care unit. When using ultrasound techniques for central venous access, access is achieved with fewer attempts, a reduced incidence of carotid artery punctures or 'hits', an increased success rate, and a decreased duration of procedure compared to the traditiona...

HYPOTHESIS Real-time ultrasound guidance should increase the success rate and lower the complication rate of central venous access in patients with relative contraindications to having the procedure performed. DESIGN Prospective case series. SETTING A community-based tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS Fifty-two patients were studied. Relative risks to central venous catheter insertion inclu...

OBJECTIVES Catheter-associated bloodstream infections are a significant source of morbidity and healthcare cost in the neonatal ICU. Previous studies examining the prevalence of bloodstream infections after removal of peripherally inserted central venous catheters in neonates are equivocal. DESIGN A retrospective cohort study. PATIENTS All infants with peripherally inserted central venous c...