[Sonographic positioning of the Shaw central Silastic floating catheter]

By means of abdominal ultrasound and two-dimensional echocardiography the exact position of 0.6 mm silastic catheters within the heart and/or great vessels (VCI, PA) can be detected and corrected under continuous control. This eliminates the need for radiological examination by contrast media, since the system might deconnect, become contaminated and/or obstructed during this manoeuvre. While radiology sometimes fails to show the exact position of the catheter, ultrasound reveals the exact position and the interaction of catheter and cardiac structures.