[Assessment of correct positioning and complications after insertion of central venous catheters using chest radiography]

The central venous catheter (CVC) is a very common procedure in the daily medical practice. In fact the CVCs are used to administer liquids and chemotherapeutics, the parenteral nutrition management, the measurement of the central venous pressure, the administration of hemodialysis. The international guidelines recommends always verifying the correct positioning of the tip of the CVC and to identify possible complications before his use. In the clinical practice the radiography of the chest represents the technique used more diffusedly for the control of the positioning and the possible precocious complications of the temporary and permanent CVCs positioned in the central veins. The integrated use of conventional radiology, above all digital of last generation, spiral computed tomography and ultrasounds allows to nearly have in every situation the answers for a correct diagnosis. The nephrologist, necessarily brought to deal with CVC, cannot refuse from a knowledge of such tools.