The Method to Increase the Ratio of Location of a Catheter in the Superior Vena Cava by Subclavian Cannulation

Chung, Cheol Woo; Kim, Ji Yeun; Bahk, Jae Hyon; Ko, Hong

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Subclavian cannulation is useful for the patients who need long-term maintenance of central venous catheters, but the inadequate location of catheters produces some complications. In pediatric populations, the abnormal placement of subclavian catheters in the internal jugular vein (IJV) is frequent because the angle formed by the subclavian vein and IJV is much larger than in adults. We would therefore propose a technique which will increase the location ratio of subclavian catheters in the superior vena cava (SVC).
METHODS
One hundred twenty three patients who received elective or emergent operations were divided into 4 groups which consisted of the 'neck rotation away from the cannulation site' group (RA), 'neck rotation toward the cannulation site' group (RT), 'neck tilt away from the cannulation site' group (TA), 'neck tilt toward the cannulation site' group (TT). We cannulated each group and verified the location of the catheter tip in chest PA for each group.
RESULTS
The calculation for the ratio of SVC location to the total cannulation of each group (%SVC) was done and the X2 test was done. Total %SVC was 73.2% and %SVC of each group were 64.9% for the RA group, 77.3% for the RT group, 61.8% for the TA group, and 93.3% for the TT group. A considerable difference was found for total %SVC in the X2 test. The location ratio of the TT group was higher than the others and there was no difference found between the RA, RT, TA groups.
CONCLUSIONS
We can conclude that tilting the neck toward the cannulation site would produce a higher ratio of SVC location of the subclavian catheter than other neck positions.