Ultrasound-Guided vs. Landmark-Based Central Venous Cannulation

Ultrasound guidance improves success rates and reduces adverse events even when used by physicians with minimal training in the technique.

Recent studies involving physicians with expertise in ultrasound (US)-guided procedures demonstrated that US guidance modestly reduces adverse events and decreases the number of needlesticks required for successful central line placement. However, many physicians do not yet use this technique. In a prospective observational study involving physicians with minimal training in use of US-guided techniques, researchers compared the incidence of adverse events with landmark-guided subclavian vein cannulation and US-guided internal jugular vein cannulation.

Physicians at an academic urban emergency department attended two lectures on the US-guided technique (no hands-on sessions were offered) and gained experience in use of both techniques while c…

Reviewing Author

Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardSecurisyn

Editorial boardsThe Merck Manuals (Home and Physician Editions)

Diane M. Birnbaumer, MD, FACEP

Disclosures

Consultant / Advisory boardSecurisyn

Editorial boardsThe Merck Manuals (Home and Physician Editions)