[Use of ECG-EC in the positioning of central venous catheters]

Central venous catheters (CVC) are widely used in clinical practice for the administration of chemotherapy, parental nutrition, hemodynamic monitoring, and hemodialysis. International guidelines have defined the right internal jugular vein as the preferred site of CVC insertion and underline that accurate positioning of the catheter tip is essential to maximize the blood flow and reduce long-term complications. Endocavitary electrocardiography (EC-ECG) improves the accuracy of catheter tip positioning without increasing the placement time by the recognition of typical P wave patterns during catheter insertion:the normally shaped P wave identifies the mid to upper superior vena cava, the widest P wave may be used to place the CVC tip at the superior vena cava-right atrium junction, and biphasic P waves identify the location of the right atrium. Because of its simplicity and safety, EC-ECG should always be considered during CVC placement, especially if other means of verifying correct CVC insertion are not available.