Complications and Failures of Subclavian-Vein Catheterization

Several million subclavian-vein catheters are placed in patients each year in the United States to enable care givers to administer chemotherapy, total parenteral nutrition, or long-term antibiotics or to manage perioperative fluids. Subclavian venipuncture requires the position of a deep vein to be identified with only surface landmarks. The precise location of the vein is not known, and it is usually impossible to detect a vascular occlusion or anomaly. Subclavian venipuncture is often a successful and uncomplicated procedure. Reported complication rates range from 0.3 to 12 percent, according to the experience of the physician and the definition of complications. 1 – . . .