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Evaluation of formulas for optimal positioning of central venous catheters
C A Czepizak1, J M O'Callaghan, B Venus
1Department of Critical Care Medicine, Colombia Memorial Hospital, Jacksonville, Fla. 32216, USA.
Objective:
To evaluate the accuracy of formulas designed to estimate the optimum intravenous length of central venous catheters.
Design:
A prospective study of catheter insertion sites to evaluate the accuracy of predetermined formulas that predict the intravascular insertion length required to avoid intracardiac catheter tip placement.
Setting:
A 320-bed tertiary hospital.
Patients:
Critically ill patients requiring central venous access for therapy or monitoring.
Main Results:
The formulas accurately predicted required intravascular length of the central venous catheter in 217 of 228 (95%) cases. The formula for predicting catheter length was most accurate when the subclavian vein was used. It was least accurate when the right internal jugular vein was selected.
Conclusions:
The formulas can accurately predict the required length of catheters and thereby reduce the possibility of complications and save time and expense.