A review of 5434 percutaneous pediatric central venous catheters inserted by anesthesiologists

Summary Objective To review the results of an anesthesiologist led pediatric percutaneous central venous access service. Methods Prospective data on percutaneous pediatric central venous catheter (CVC) insertions were collected over 22 years. Data included age, gender, weight, previous central CVCs, venous thromboses, investigations for great vein patency, type of CVC, external diameter, previous CVC insertions, intended use, operator identity, and the vein into which the CVC was inserted. The default technique was internal jugular vein cannulation using landmark technique (LT). Complication was defined as the following: failure to cannulate any vein, hemothorax, pneumothorax, right atrial perforation, extravenous wire positioning or CVC position and whether the patient was taken back to theater for CVC repositioning. Results Five thousand four hundred and thirty‐four percutaneous CVC insertion procedures were performed on 3954 patients. One‐third involved children