Central Venous Catheters
OVERVIEW
- Central venous catheter (CVC) is a cannula placed in a central vein (e.g. subclavian, internal jugular or femoral)
USES/INDICATIONS
- Intravenous (IV) access (especially if difficult peripheral access)
- Central venous pressure (CVP) monitoring
- Central venous oxygen saturation (ScvO2) monitoring/sampling
- Infusions of irritant substances (e.g. vasoactive agents, chemotherapy or parenteral nutrition administration)
- Renal replacement therapy, plasmapheresis and apheresis (using a vascath)
- Transvenous pacing
Large bore peripheral IV lines, RICC lines, Swan sheaths or IO access are preferred for rapid fluid resuscitation.
CONTRAINDICATIONS
- obstructed vein (e.g. thrombus, or tumour)
- overlying skin infection, burn or other disease process
- hemorrhage from target vessel
- uncooperative patient
Femoral access can still be used in the following situations:
- coagulopathy
- respiratory failure
- raised intracranial pressure (ICP) (cannot tilt head down)
DESCRIPTION
- multi-lumen catheter
- brown lumen is the distal lumen (used for CVP monitoring)
METHOD OF INSERTION AND/OR USE
- aseptic technique
- ultrasound guided (if possible)
- head down (IJ, SC)
- head up (femoral)
- Seldinger technique
- ensure control of the guidewire at all times
Internal Jugular
- anatomy:
- course:
- origin from jugular foramen
- joins subclavian vein behind sternal extremity of clavicle
- medial relations: internal and common carotid arteries, 9th to 12th cranial nerves above common carotid artery and vagus
- anterolateral relations: skin, superficial fascia, platysma, cervical fascia, sternomastoid, sternohyoid, omohyoid
- posterior relations: transverse process of the cervical vertebrae, levator scapulae, scalenus medius and anterior, cervical plexus, phrenic nerve, thyrocervical trunk, vertebral vein, 1st part of subclavian artery
- tributaries:
- inferior petrosal sinus, facial, pharyngeal, lingual, superior thyroid, middle thyroid, occipital veins
- course:
- central approach:
- insert 1cm above the apex of head of sternocleidomastoid and clavicle
- advance 60 degrees to skin aiming towards ipsilateral nipple (blood should be obtained within 3cm)
- lateral/posterior approach:
- insert 2-3 finger breaths above clavicle along posterior border of SCM
- direct needle towards jugular notch (blood should be aspirated within 5cm)
- anterior approach:
- identify the carotid and mid point of medial SCM border, aim toward ipsilateral nipple
Subclavian
- anatomy:
- superior relations: midpoint of clavicle
- anterior relations: skin, external jugular vein, clavicle
- medial relations: fascia, trachea
- posterior relations: subclavian artery, first rib, scalenus anterior, phrenic nerve and fascia over pleura
- approaches: supraclaviclar, infraclavicular and lateral
Femoral
- anatomy:
- “NAVEL”: nerve – artery – vein – empty space – lymph node (lateral to medial)
- boundaries of the femoral triangle are adductor longus and sartorius
- approach: slight external rotation of hip, palpate pulse, medial to arterial pulsation
Video demonstration of landmark approach to IJV CVC insertion
COMPLICATIONS
Immediate
- pneumothorax (highest for SCV)
- failure to locate vein
- accidental arterial puncture
- haemothorax
- haematoma
- arrhythmia
- thoracic duct injury
- guide wire embolus
- air embolus
Early
- haemopericardium and tamponade
- pneumothorax
- catheter blockage
- chylothorax
- catheter knots
Late
- infection (no difference in the rate of catheter-related bloodstream infections between the IJ, SC and Femoral sites -> 2.5 infections/ 1000 catheter days)
- catheter fracture
- vascular erosion
- vessel stenosis
- thrombosis
- osteomyelitis of clavicle
SITE COMPARISON
Choice of insertion site should be tailored to the needs and status of the patient. In general, the order of preference is subclavian (or axillary), internal jugular, then femoral. There are exceptions, for instance the subclavian route is usually best avoided in patients at risk of longterm dialysis (due to risk of vessel stenosis) or severe lung pathology (where the slightly higher risk of pneumothorax may be catastrophic).
The following table compares the common CVC insertion sites, which each having pros and cons:
Internal jugular | Subclavian / axillary | Femoral | |
Access and insertion | Head-of-bed access Tredelenberg position required Difficult access during airway management Collapsible vein if hypovolemia | Side-of-bed access Trendelenberg position required Accessible during airway management Longer path from skin to vessel | Side-of-bed access Trendelenburg position not required Does not interfere with airway management Most accessible site during CPR |
Position of CVC tip | SVC (at level of carina) | SVC (at level of carina) | IVC (less likely to correlate with RAP) |
Insertion success rate | Higher success rate with novice operator with ultrasound guidance | Decreased success rate with inexperience | Rapid access with high success rate |
Risk of pneumothorax | Low (0.5%) | Highest (1.5%) | No risk |
Bleeding and arterial injury | Compressible site Risk of carotid artery puncture | Non compressible site (contraindicated if bleeding diathesis) | Compressible site Highest rate of unintended arterial cannulation |
Thrombosis and venous drainage | Potential to impede cerebral venous drainage and increase intracranial pressure | Lowest rates of thrombosis Higher rate of stenosis (concern for long term dialysis) | Increased risk of iliofemoral thrombosis |
Risk of infection | Moderate (3.6 per 1000 catheter days) | Lowest (1.5 per 1000 catheter days) | Highest (4.6 per 1000 catheter days)* |
Comfort and mobility | Uncomfortable and not suited for prolonged access | Comfortable | Impedes patient mobility |
Maintenance | Dressings more difficult to maintain (especially if patient has a tracheostomy) | Easy to maintain dressings | More difficult to keep site sterile |
Other considerations | Risk of thoracic duct injury on left Poor landmarks in patients with obesity/ neck oedema | Catheter malposition more common (especially right SCV) | Caution in patients with IVC filter Delayed circulation of drugs during CPR |
OTHER INFORMATION
Insertion length
Formulas for Catheter Insertion Length Based on Patient Height and Approach
Site | Formula (Height in cm) | In SVC (%) | In RA (%) |
Right Subclavian (RSCV) | (Height/10) – 2 cm | 96 | 4 |
Left Subclavian (LSCV) | (Height/10) + 2 cm | 97 | 2 |
Right Internal jugular (RIJV) | Height/10 | 90 | 10 |
Left Internal jugular (LIJV) | (Height/10) + 4 cm | 94 | 5 |
In practice, I tend to estimate the length based on patient height and body habitus and the CVC insertion location.
Confirmation of position
- ultrasound visualisation of needle insertion, guidewire placement and CVC
- pressure measurement
- assess for CVP trace
- inject agitated saline and observe rapid appearance of bubbles on bedside echo
- CXR
Handy tips
- Do not shave hair at insertion site unless it interferes with dressing adhesive, as it may increase the risk of infection from disruption of the epidermal barrier by skin lacerations.
- Draw up normal saline in a 10-mL syringe and lignocaine in a 5-mL syringe to ensure these two agents are not mixed up during the procedure.
- Use ECG monitoring during insertion of IJV and subclavian lines to detect transient dysrhythmia caused by guidewire irritation of the myocardium.
- CVC insertion is not necessary, or even optimal, for fluid resuscitation. A short wide-bore cannula is better.
- Ultrasound guidance is virtually the standard of care, where available and time permits. However the proceduralist must have adequate training.
- Abdominal compression or valsalva can increase the diameter of the internal jugular vein.
- Before inserting a CVL anticipate the future management of the patient, e.g. avoid IJV if PAC likely to be required, avoid SVC if likely to need fistula formation for hemodialysis, etc.
- Access to the SCV during CVC insertion may be facilitated by caudal traction (5 cm extension) on the ipsilateral upper limb, or by placing a roll under the ipsilateral shoulder.
- The chance of a complication escalates with repeated attempts, especially for SCV CVC insertion.
- Avoid placing a CVC in to shallow a depth — if in too the CVC can be pulled back, if too shallow CVC needs to be replaced by railroading a guidewire
References and Links
Introduction to ICU Series
Introduction to ICU Series Landing Page
DAY TO DAY ICU: FASTHUG, ICU Ward Round, Clinical Examination, Communication in a Crisis, Documenting the ward round in ICU, Human Factors
AIRWAY: Bag Valve Mask Ventilation, Oropharyngeal Airway, Nasopharyngeal Airway, Endotracheal Tube (ETT), Tracheostomy Tubes
BREATHING: Positive End Expiratory Pressure (PEEP), High Flow Nasal Prongs (HFNP), Intubation and Mechanical Ventilation, Mechanical Ventilation Overview, Non-invasive Ventilation (NIV)
CIRCULATION: Arrhythmias, Atrial Fibrillation, ICU after Cardiac Surgery, Pacing Modes, ECMO, Shock
CNS: Brain Death, Delirium in the ICU, Examination of the Unconscious Patient, External-ventricular Drain (EVD), Sedation in the ICU
GASTROINTESTINAL: Enteral Nutrition vs Parenteral Nutrition, Intolerance to EN, Prokinetics, Stress Ulcer Prophylaxis (SUP), Ileus
GENITOURINARY: Acute Kidney Injury (AKI), CRRT Indications
HAEMATOLOGICAL: Anaemia, Blood Products, Massive Transfusion Protocol (MTP)
INFECTIOUS DISEASE: Antimicrobial Stewardship, Antimicrobial Quick Reference, Central Line Associated Bacterial Infection (CLABSI), Handwashing in ICU, Neutropenic Sepsis, Nosocomial Infections, Sepsis Overview
SPECIAL GROUPS IN ICU: Early Management of the Critically Ill Child, Paediatric Formulas, Paediatric Vital Signs, Pregnancy and ICU, Obesity, Elderly
FLUIDS AND ELECTROLYTES: Albumin vs 0.9% Saline, Assessing Fluid Status, Electrolyte Abnormalities, Hypertonic Saline
PHARMACOLOGY: Drug Infusion Doses, Summary of Vasopressors, Prokinetics, Steroid Conversion, GI Drug Absorption in Critical Illness
PROCEDURES: Arterial line, CVC, Intercostal Catheter (ICC), Intraosseous Needle, Underwater seal drain, Naso- and Orogastric Tubes (NGT/OGT), Rapid Infusion Catheter (RIC)
INVESTIGATIONS: ABG Interpretation, Echo in ICU, CXR in ICU, Routine daily CXR, FBC, TEG/ROTEM, US in Critical Care
ICU MONITORING: NIBP vs Arterial line, Arterial Line Pressure Transduction, Cardiac Output, Central Venous Pressure (CVP), CO2 / Capnography, Pulmonary Artery Catheter (PAC / Swan-Ganz), Pulse Oximeter
Journal articles
- Czepizak CA, O’Callaghan JM, Venus B. Evaluation of formulas for optimal positioning of central venous catheters. Chest. 1995 Jun;107(6):1662-4 PMID: 7781364.
- Kujur R, Rao MS, Mrinal M. How correct is the correct length for central venous catheter insertion. Indian J Crit Care Med. 2009 Jul-Sep;13(3):159-62. PMC2823099. (external validity is questionable!)
- Marik PE, Flemmer M, Harrison W. The risk of catheter-related bloodstream infection with femoral venous catheters as compared to subclavian and internal jugular venous catheters: a systematic review of the literature and meta-analysis. Crit Care Med. 2012 Aug;40(8):2479-85. PMID: 22809915.
FOAM and web resources
- Phillippe Le Favre — Central Venous Cather Insertion Guide (video guide, written guide, self test questions)
Critical Care
Compendium
Chris is an Intensivist and ECMO specialist at the Alfred ICU in Melbourne. He is also a Clinical Adjunct Associate Professor at Monash University. He is a co-founder of the Australia and New Zealand Clinician Educator Network (ANZCEN) and is the Lead for the ANZCEN Clinician Educator Incubator programme. He is on the Board of Directors for the Intensive Care Foundation and is a First Part Examiner for the College of Intensive Care Medicine. He is an internationally recognised Clinician Educator with a passion for helping clinicians learn and for improving the clinical performance of individuals and collectives.
After finishing his medical degree at the University of Auckland, he continued post-graduate training in New Zealand as well as Australia’s Northern Territory, Perth and Melbourne. He has completed fellowship training in both intensive care medicine and emergency medicine, as well as post-graduate training in biochemistry, clinical toxicology, clinical epidemiology, and health professional education.
He is actively involved in in using translational simulation to improve patient care and the design of processes and systems at Alfred Health. He coordinates the Alfred ICU’s education and simulation programmes and runs the unit’s education website, INTENSIVE. He created the ‘Critically Ill Airway’ course and teaches on numerous courses around the world. He is one of the founders of the FOAM movement (Free Open-Access Medical education) and is co-creator of litfl.com, the RAGE podcast, the Resuscitology course, and the SMACC conference.
His one great achievement is being the father of three amazing children.
On Twitter, he is @precordialthump.
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