Friday, November 30, 2007

Friday November 30, 2007


Q:
What is the maximum length of guide-wire to be advanced to avoid guide-wire lost and embolism during subclavian or internal jugular venous catheterization?

A: About 18 cm (may be little less in right IJ)Beside not to loose control of guide-wire, it is appropriate to know the markings on guidewire of CVC kit used in your unit / hospital. Patient height is less reliable in predicting a safe wire length. 18 cm should be considered the upper limit of guidewire introduced during central catheter placement in adults 1.

Related Previous Pearl: Peres Nomogram to calculate appropriate length of central line depth


Reference: click to get abstract

How much guidewire is too much? Direct measurement of the distance from subclavian and internal jugular vein access sites to the superior vena cava-atrial junction during central venous catheter placement - Critical Care Medicine. 28(1):138-142, January 2000.