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Obtaining a chest x-ray after placement of a central line is considered standard practice, but is there a reliable, faster way to confirm line placement and rule out pneumothorax? Researchers prospectively evaluated the usefulness of beside ultrasound in 111 consecutive adult patients who underwent central venous catheterization (85 subclavian, 26 internal jugular) in an intensive care unit in Italy. Ultrasound was not used to guide catheter placement. A single intensivist performed B-mode ultrasound to assess catheter position and detect pneumothorax (based on absence of lung sliding), followed by contrast-enhanced ultrasound with rapid injection of a 5-mL bolus of a saline–air mixture through the catheter to visualize the catheter tip. Al…