The journal of vascular access
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Internal jugular vein cannulation has become a routine and clinically important aspect of medical care in hemodialysis patients. Mismanagement in the location of a central venous catheter may occur in up to 20% of cases. The aim of the study was to evaluate the utility of endocavitary electrocardiography in right internal jugu-lar vein placement of central venous catheters. ⋯ In 6 catheterizations, no atrial trace was obtained due to atrial fibrillation in 4 cases, and in 2 cases technical error and guide-wire looping into a right jugular vein. Complications as a direct result of guide-wire or catheter placement were not observed. In our opinion this method can be used safely and makes radiological control usually unnecessary. (The Journal of Vascular Access 2001; 2: 45-50).
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The NKF-DOQI guidelines recommend performing chest-X-ray(CXR) after subclavian and internal jugular vein insertion prior to catheter use. This is to exclude complications such as a pneumothorax before starting hemodialysis. Indication of a central venous dialysis catheter was based on the historic use of the subclavian vein for placement of these catheters and upon the reported incidence of pneumothorax after this approach of between 1% to 12.4%. ⋯ In the first hundred cases, all patients underwent CXR. Subsequently, because of total absence of complications and catheter tip malpositioning, the CXR control was carried out only in selected cases (repeated cannulation of the jugular vein or absence of P wave). We believe that only in selected cases should a pCXR be performed before starting hemodialysis sessions, and that our method using the right IJV, ultrasound-guided puncture of the vessel, and catheter placement by EC-ECG is a safe and simple technique that avoids the need for CXR control.
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The percutaneous femoral approach for temporary central venous hemodialysis access is a mandatory part of patient management in many clinical settings. It is usually achieved with a blind, exter-nal landmark-guided technique. The aim of this study is to evaluate whether an ultrasound technique can improve on the external landmark method. ⋯ In the group with silicone catheters local exit infection occurred in 4 patients (10 % of cas-es), total catheter thrombosis in 1 (2.6%), bacteriemia in 2 (5.2%) and phlebitis in 0 (0%). The result of the study suggests that ultrasound-guided cannulation of the femoral vein is superior to traditional techniques relying on anatomic landmark; it reduces the numbers of unsuccessful attempts and the possible acute complications of the procedure. We believe that femoral cannulation with modern flexible silicone catheters can be considered as a reliable temporary access, even for extended periods.