Missing the guidewire: an avoidable complication

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Updated: Jun 8, 2026

The Supraclavicular Fossa Ultrasound View for Central Venous Catheter Placement and Catheter Change Over Guidewire
07:47

The Supraclavicular Fossa Ultrasound View for Central Venous Catheter Placement and Catheter Change Over Guidewire

Published on: December 23, 2014

Hesham R Omar1, Ahmed Fathy, Devanand Mangar

  • 1Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt. hesham_engy2008@yahoo.com.

International Archives of Medicine
|September 28, 2010
PubMed

Insights

A rare complication of central venous catheterization, guidewire loss, is discussed. This report details precautions and guidewire modifications to prevent this serious event in critically ill patients.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Procedures
  • Critical Care Medicine
  • Vascular Access

Background:

  • Central venous catheterization is vital for critically ill patients, enabling fluid/medication administration and pressure monitoring.
  • Despite its utility, central venous catheterization carries risks, including potentially life-threatening complications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To address the rare complication of guidewire loss during central venous catheterization.
  • To present preventative measures and guidewire modifications to mitigate this risk.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review and case report analysis focusing on guidewire loss during central venous catheterization.
  • Description of procedural precautions and technical modifications for guidewire security.

Main Results:

  • Guidewire loss is an infrequent but significant complication of central venous catheterization.
  • Specific procedural steps and device modifications can effectively reduce the incidence of guidewire loss.

Conclusions:

  • Awareness and implementation of described precautions are crucial for patient safety during central venous catheterization.
  • Modifications to guidewire design and handling protocols can enhance procedural safety and prevent rare but serious complications.

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