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  Vol. 138 No. 9, September 2003 TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Effect of Patient Position on Size and Location of the Subclavian Vein for Percutaneous Puncture

John B. Fortune, MD; Paul Feustel, PhD

Arch Surg. 2003;138:996-1000.

Hypothesis  Large-bore subclavian intravenous access is important during trauma resuscitation and to provide central access in the intensive care unit. Controversy exists as to the patient position that best facilitates the insertion of this line. Duplex scanning of the subclavian vein in different body positions may help define which provides the largest vein size and distance from the clavicle.

Design  Prospective comparison study in healthy humans.

Setting  Clinical research laboratory.

Subjects  Ten healthy volunteers.

Interventions  We examined the left subclavian vein diameter, position from clavicle, and flow in subjects placed in 5 different positions advocated for subclavian vein puncture. A duplex scanner was used to image the subclavian vein with B-mode ultrasonography and to detect flow rates with a Doppler probe. The different subject positions were as follows: (1) flat (or supine), head and shoulders neutral; (2) flat, head neutral, shoulders arched; (3) flat, head opposite, shoulders arched; (4) Trendelenburg, head opposite, shoulders arched; and (5) Trendelenburg, head and shoulders neutral.

Results  The mean (SEM) diameter of the subclavian vein is largest in position 5 (0.99 [0.06] cm) and smallest in position 2 (0.84 [0.05] cm). The distance of the vein from the clavicle is greatest in position 1 (0.94 [0.08] cm) and least in position 4 (0.75 [0.07] cm). Using an analysis of variance with Dunnett's comparison, all positions were compared with position 5. For vein diameter, all positions had significantly smaller size. In position 4, the vein was significantly closer to the clavicle. There was no statistical difference in flow rates among all positions.

Conclusions  These data demonstrate that arching of the shoulders and turning of the head may reduce target size and provide an unsatisfactory position for subclavian puncture. The Trendelenburg position with no other positioning maneuvers may be helpful.


From the Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, Southern Illinois School of Medicine, Springfield (Dr Fortune); and the Department of Surgery, Albany Medical College, Albany, NY (Dr Feustel).


RELATED ARTICLE

Effect of Patient Position on Size and Location of the Subclavian Vein for Percutaneous Puncture—Invited Critique
Karyn L. Butler
Arch Surg. 2003;138(9):1001.
EXTRACT | FULL TEXT  


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Central Venous Catheterization -- Subclavian Vein
Braner et al.
NEJM 2007;357:e26-e26.
 

A Novel Supraclavicular Approach to the Right Subclavian Vein Based on Three-Dimensional Computed Tomography
Jung et al.
Anesth. Analg. 2007;105:200-204.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  





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