Placement of Central Venous Catheter

Abstract

This chapter describes the surgical procedure for placement of central venous catheter. The text includes an introduction that outlines the indications, risks, alternatives, essential steps, needed equipment, and variations in technique for the procedure in question. This is followed by a template operative dictation, which provides the reader with an operative report, such as is found in a patient chart or electronic medical record. A description is provided of the following critical concepts for this procedure: identification of appropriate anatomic landmarks, ultrasound identification of target vessel, venipuncture, Seldinger technique, placement of catheter and confirmation of catheter tip position, tunneling of line (if indicated).