[Central venous cannulation - always with ultrasound support?]

Central Venous Cannulation - Always with Ultrasound Support?.Ultrasound guided puncture (UGP) improves success and complication rates of central venous cannulation. By some authors UGP with imaging devices are strongly recommended for all cannulations of subclavian or internal jugular veins. In order to review the current literature a computer based abstract search in Medline was performed for the period from January 1972 to May 2000 limited by the key words "catheterization, central venous catheter, internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, axillary vein, femoral vein, ultrasound, ultrasonography, Site-Rite und Smart Needle". UGP of the internal jugular vein was recommended in 29 prospective randomized studies, 21 prospective and three retrospective studies as well as in several clinical reports. UGP of the subclavian vein was supported by only 4 studies, whereas two studies did not show any improvement of puncture results with UGP. Due to the visualisation of the vessel and the cannula imaging techniques represent the "gold standard". However, with conventional Doppler devices nearly the same success rates can be obtained. It does not seem to be justified to perform every central venous cannulation with Doppler or ultrasound support. Each anaesthetist and intensive care physician should be able to perform central venous cannulation without a Doppler or ultrasound device. However, in cases of abnormal anatomy UGP can be helpful to prevent complications. Especially children, patients with coagulation disorders and physicians with limited experience in central venous cannulation can benefit from UGP.