Modified Inside-Out Technique for Continued Use of Chronically Occluded Upper Central Veins

This report describes a 2-step, inside-out procedure for upper body central venous access in patients with chronic central venous occlusions. Blunt cephalad dissection through the mediastinum was achieved with a curved metal cannula and guide wire followed by percutaneous puncture of an open snare from a right supraclavicular approach and dilation of the tract for a tunneled central venous catheter insertion. Of 9 patients, all had a successful placement of a tunneled central venous catheter using this method. Although this 2-step, inside-out technique is effective for creating access in the presence of central venous occlusion, further clinical evaluation is warranted.