Retrospective evaluation of 599 brachiocephalic vein cannulations in neonates and preterm infants

This is the most recent study of Dr. C. Breschan, member of the NEVAT.
Ultrasound guidance permits the placement of relatively large bore central venous catheters (2-4 French) into the brachiocephalic vein in very small infants. These catheters also enable haemodynamic monitoring, blood sampling, and high-flow infusions. The aim of this retrospective analysis was to confirm the clinical feasibility of supraclavicular ultrasound-guided (USG) cannulation of the brachiocephalic vein in neonates weighting <3.5kg and the implications of increasing experience with this cannulation technique. All cannulations were performed under general anaesthesia by three anaesthesiologists.

Authors : Christian Breschan¹, *, Gudrun Graf¹ , Christoph Arneitz² , Haro Stettner³ , Stefan Neuwersch¹ , Christian Stadik⁴ , Markus Koestenberger¹ , Sandra Holasek⁵ and Rudolf Likar¹
1 Department of Anaesthesia, Klinikum Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria,
2 Department of Pediatric Surgery, Klinikum Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria,
3 Department of Statistics, University of Klagenfurt, Klagenfurt, Austria,
4 Department of Neurorehabilitation, Krankenhaus Hermagor, Klagenfurt, Austria and
5 Institute of Pathophysiology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria

*Corresponding author. E-mail: christian.breschan@kabeg.at

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