Abstract
Objective: To investigate the safety and reliability of central venous catheterization (CVC) by means of axillary vein puncture with real-time ultrasound and fluoroscopic guidance. Method: This CVC procedure consists of axillary vein puncture with real-time ultrasound guidance and handling of guidewire, dilator and catheter under fluoroscopy. A series of procedures was performed by a single operator. The number of puncture, the success rate, and the number of mechanical complications were recorded. Results: 45 procedures were performed. The mean puncture time was 1.4. The puncture success rate was 97.8%. The axillaly vein was catheterized successfully in 95.6% of the cases. There were no mechanical complications. Conclusion: This method secured a high success rate with less puncture times and no mechanical complications. Therefore, this can be the more useful alternative technique for CVC than subclavian vein puncture, and has the potential of being established as the safer and more reliable technique of CVC. Further investigations involving more operators are needed.
