[Safety of axillary and subclavian vein cannulation using real-time ultrasound guidance]

The safety of real-time ultrasound-guided subclavian and axillary vein cannulation as opposed to ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein cannulation has not received much attention. We retrospectively compared the safety and value of real-time ultrasound-guided cannulation in the subclavian and axillary veins with those of the landmark method.

We divided 355 patients who had undergone central venous cannulation of the subclavian and axillary vein under local anesthesia into a group that had undergone real-time ultrasound-guided cannulation (Group U), and another group cannulated using the landmark method (Group L). We compared rates of complications and cannulation success as well as average procedural durations between the two groups.

The complication rate was significantly lower in Group U (P=0.005). Most of the complications were arterial puncture. Five patients who developed pneumothorax and nerve damage were in Group L. The success rates and average procedural duration did not significantly differ.

Real-time ultrasound-guided subclavian and axillary vein cannulation is associated with a low incidence of complications similar to that of the internal jugular vein when competent individuals with appropriate training apply the technique.