Clinical cardiology
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Clinical cardiology · Jan 1993
Duplex sonographic detection of internal jugular venous thrombosis after removal of central venous catheters.
Venous thrombosis is a very common complication of central venous catheters inserted via the jugular or subclavian vein. The aim of this prospective study is to test the suitability of duplex sonography in detecting thrombi in the internal jugular vein after catheter removal and to analyze the number and extent of such thrombus formations. The study group comprised 64 consecutive patients with an average age of 59 +/- 16 years admitted to an internal intensive care unit. ⋯ Local inflammation signs and local hematoma showed a significantly higher incidence (p < 0.01) in patients with thrombus formation. Duplex sonography lends itself as a valuable diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of thrombus formation in the internal jugular vein after removal of central venous catheters. Sonographic examinations should be carried out in all long-stay patients at an intensive care unit, in whom central venous catheters are inserted repeatedly via the internal jugular vein.