[Internal jugular vein catheterization performed by resident and staff physicians]

Area of Science:

• Vascular Surgery
• Medical Education
• Interventional Procedures

Background:

• Internal jugular vein (IJV) catheterization is a common procedure.
• Assessing the safety and efficacy of specific techniques, like the Boulanger technique, is crucial for medical training.
• Understanding complication rates and success factors aids in refining procedural training.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze complications associated with the Boulanger technique for IJV catheterization.
• To establish a difficulty and risk rating for this procedure performed by physicians in training.
• To compare the outcomes of trainees with those of experienced staff physicians.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study involving 296 IJV catheterizations using the Boulanger technique.
• Participants included physicians in training (R2 and R3-4 groups) and staff physicians.
• Data collected included time to catheterization, success rates, and complication occurrences.

Main Results:

• The most frequent complication was carotid artery puncture (11.4%), with variations across training levels and staff.
• Arrhythmia upon guidewire insertion occurred in 1.6% of cases.
• No pneumothorax or hemothorax were reported; success rates varied from 68.8% (R2) to 85.7% (staff).

Conclusions:

• The Boulanger technique for IJV catheterization is considered a valuable and safe method.
• The procedure is not unduly hazardous when performed by resident physicians in training.
• Training programs can effectively incorporate this technique with appropriate supervision and monitoring.