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Routine chest roentgenogram after central venous catheter insertion is not always necessary
Alvaro Sanabria1, Carlos Henao, Romulo Bonilla
1Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, University of Antioquia, University Hospital San Vicente de Paúl, Apartado aéreo 1226, Postal 229 Ciudad Universitaria, Medellín, Colombia. asanabriq@hotmail.com
Background:
To evaluate the usefulness of routine radiologic control after the insertion of a central venous catheter as a tool that might modify treatment of patients.
Methods:
A prospective study was made of 149 patients submitted to central venous catheter insertion.
Results:
In 55% of the patients the roentgenogram showed an adequate placement of the catheter tip and in 3.6% it showed some abnormal finding. Ten modifications were carried out based on the radiologic results. The prolonged partial thromboplastin time value and the subjective degree of difficulty showed a statistical relation to the appearance of complications. The number of punctures above one related to abnormal radiologic findings.
Conclusions:
The results suggest that routine chest radiology after the insertion of a central venous catheter is not always necessary and that it should be ordered selectively, according to the findings made during the procedure and the subjective degree of difficulty.