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Ultrasound-guided central line placement has shown mixed results in the pediatric population. These investigators retrospectively evaluated success and complication rates of central line placement by pediatric emergency physicians with and without ultrasound guidance at a single pediatric emergency department over 8 years. The landmark technique was used for the first 3 years, ultrasound was used intermittently for the next 3 years, and, after a formal ultrasound training program was instituted, ultrasound guidance was used exclusively for the last 2 years.
During the study period, 131 femoral and 37 internal jugular lines were placed in 168 patients (median age, 11 years), with a median of 17 central lines placed annually. All 70 lines plac…