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Updated: Jul 18, 2026

The Supraclavicular Fossa Ultrasound View for Central Venous Catheter Placement and Catheter Change Over Guidewire
Published on: December 23, 2014
Can you justify not using ultrasound guidance for central venous access?
1Department of Anaesthesia, Leeds General Infirmary, Leeds, LS1 3EX, UK. Andy.Bodenham@leedsth.nhs.uk
Insights
Ultrasound guidance significantly improves internal jugular vein catheterization success rates and patient safety. This method reduces complications like carotid puncture and infection compared to traditional landmark techniques.
Area of Science:
- Medical Imaging
- Vascular Access Procedures
- Clinical Ultrasound Applications
Background:
- Internal jugular vein catheterization is a common medical procedure.
- Traditional landmark-based techniques carry risks of complications.
- Ultrasound guidance has emerged as a potential method to improve safety and efficacy.
Discussion:
- This prospective, randomized study compared ultrasound guidance to landmark-based techniques in 900 patients undergoing internal jugular vein catheterization.
- The study evaluated key procedural outcomes including success rate, complication rates (e.g., carotid puncture, hematoma, pneumothorax), and infection rates.
- Findings underscore the significant impact of imaging modality on procedural outcomes and patient safety.
Key Insights:
- Ultrasound guidance achieved a 100% success rate versus 94% with landmark techniques.
- Significant reductions in complications were observed with ultrasound: carotid puncture (1% vs. 11%), carotid hematoma (0.4% vs. 8.4%), hemothorax (0% vs. 1.7%), pneumothorax (0% vs. 2.4%), and catheter-related infections (10% vs. 16%).
- Ultrasound also reduced needle puncture time.
Outlook:
- The study strongly advocates for the routine adoption of ultrasound guidance for central venous access procedures.
- Further research may explore cost-effectiveness and implementation strategies for widespread ultrasound use.
- Standardizing ultrasound training for central venous catheterization is recommended.
Abstract:
Karakitsos and coworkers, in this journal, reported further compelling evidence on the value of ultrasound in guiding internal jugular vein catheterization. In a large, prospective, randomized study of 900 patients, comparisons were made between patients in whom the procedure was performed using landmark-based techniques and those assigned to ultrasound guidance. The key benefits from use of ultrasound included reduction in needle puncture time, increased overall success rate (100% versus 94%), reduction in carotid puncture (1% versus 11%), reduction in carotid haematoma (0.4% versus 8.4%), reduction in haemothorax (0% versus 1.7%), decreased pneumothorax (0% versus 2.4%) and reduction in catheter-related infection (10% versus 16%). The implications of these findings are discussed, and a compelling case for routine use of ultrasound to guide central venous access is made.
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