Cannulation of the subclavian vein using real-time ultrasound guidance

Thomas W Davies; Hugh Montgomery; Edward Gilbert-Kawai

doi:10.1177/1751143720901403

Cannulation of the subclavian vein using real-time ultrasound guidance

J Intensive Care Soc. 2020 Nov;21(4):349-354. doi: 10.1177/1751143720901403. Epub 2020 Jan 23.

Authors

Thomas W Davies¹, Hugh Montgomery², Edward Gilbert-Kawai¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Intensive Care, University College Hospital, London, UK.
² Department of Medicine, Centre for Human Health and Performance, University College London, London, UK.

Abstract

Cannulation of the subclavian vein has many advantages when compared to other anatomical sites for central venous access. Difficulty in its ultrasonic visualisation, and the perceived consequent 'higher' complication rate, mean that this approach has fallen out of favour. This barrier, however, may now have disappeared. In this article, we discuss the indications, contraindications and complications associated with subclavian vein cannulation, and present an ultrasound-guided approach to infraclavicular subclavian cannulation.

Keywords: Central venous cannulation; central venous catheterisation; infraclavicular; subclavian vein; ultrasound.