• J M Pérez Reyes, S Bethencourt Muñoz, M T Cabrejas Ibarz, M Tejero García, J Valdivia Martín, and F González Miranda.
• Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario de Canarias, La Laguna, Tenerife.
• Rev Esp Anestesiol Reanim. 2008 Dec 1;55(10):616-20.

BackgroundUltrasound-guided central venous catheterization provides a direct view of anatomical structures, making it easier to determine the exact puncture site, thereby reducing the associated mechanical complications.Patients And MethodsThis study included patients scheduled for central venous catheterization. An ultrasound examination was performed on the necks of all patients before the right internal jugular vein was catheterized by a single operator using ultrasound monitoring.ResultsWe studied 21 men and 14 women; the mean (SD) age of the patients was 53 (17) years. Forty percent were kidney transplant recipients and 57% had had the right internal jugular vein catheterized on other occasions. The carotid artery had accidentally been punctured using the standard catheterization technique in 4 of the patients; the internal jugular vein was then catheterized successfully using ultrasound-guidance, which clearly showed the hematoma caused by the carotid puncture. The right internal jugular vein was successfully catheterized in 34 patients; it was necessary to catheterize the left jugular vein in 1 patient as the ultrasound examination revealed thrombosis of the right vein. A single puncture was performed in all cases and none of the complications associated with venous puncture were observed.ConclusionUltrasound images allowed us to effectively examine the jugular vein prior to puncture for central venous catheterization. Ultrasound-guided puncture of the vein was satisfactory and free from complications in all cases.

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