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Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein in critically ill patients positioned in 30° dorsal elevation

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 December 2004

J. Brederlau
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
C. Greim
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
U. Schwemmer
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
B. Haunschmid
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
C. Markus
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
N. Roewer
Affiliation:
Universitätsklinikum Würzburg, Klinik und Poliklinik für Anästhesiologie, Würzburg, Germany
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Abstract

Summary

Background and objective: Catheterization of the internal jugular vein is traditionally performed with the patient lying flat or in the Trendelenburg position. This puts patients with elevated intracranial pressure at risk of cerebral herniation. The objective of this study was to assess the safety of real-time ultrasound-guided catheterization of the internal jugular vein in ventilated patients with the patient positioned in a 30° head-up position.

Methods: This prospective, single-centre case series was performed in a 12-bed multi-disciplinary adult intensive care unit (ICU) in a 1500-bed university hospital. The cohort consisted of 64 ventilated ICU patients (14 female, 50 male) with a median age of 52 yr (range 18–85 yr), needing central venous cannulation for insertion of a central venous, haemodialysis or pulmonary artery catheter. The majority of patients presented with risk factors for a difficult cannulation. Catheterization was performed using real-time ultrasound guidance with all patients positioned in 30° dorsal elevation.

Results: Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein was successful in all patients. There was no evidence of air embolism. Despite a high incidence of anomalous anatomy (39%) no injury to the carotid artery occurred. Central venous access was established in less than 1 min in 75% of patients.

Conclusion: Ultrasound-guided cannulation of the internal jugular vein in ventilated ICU patients can be performed successfully with the patient positioned in 30° dorsal elevation. Potentially deleterious position changes can thus be avoided in high-risk patients.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
2004 European Society of Anaesthesiology

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