SUBCLAVIAN VENOUS ACCESS VIA SUPRACLAVICULAR FOSS GUIDED BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY: IS IT A SAFE OPTION?

Abstract

Introduction: Central venous cannulation is a technique whose execution is still associated with mechanical, thrombotic and infectious complications and ultrasound-guided cannulation seems to reduce the incidence of these complications, costs and time required to perform the procedure. However, rare evidence supports the use of ultrasonography for cannulation of the subclavian vein via the supraclavicular route. Objectives: To assess whether subclavian venous access via the supraclavicular fossa guided by real-time ultrasound is a safe alternative for obtaining deep venous access. Method: Interventional, cross-sectional epidemiological study, characterized as a clinical trial, in ICU patients. The variables were: age, gender, weight, punctured laterality, number of cannulation attempts, time between obtaining the image and accessing the vein, depth of the subclavian vein in relation to the skin, and complications during placement and permanence of the catheter. Results: Accesses were performed in 18 patients. Most punctures were obtained in the first or second attempt, comprising 72.2% of the procedures, with an average time for execution of 9 min. There was a predominance of depths between 0.63 and 1.09 cm with an average of 1 cm. The success rate was 94.4% with 5.6% of complications corresponding to an arterial puncture. There were no other mechanical, thrombotic or infectious complications. Conclusions: The procedure is safe, performed in 9 min and, mostly, in the first or second attempt with 5.6% of complications, and depth from the skin of 1 cm.