Anaesthesia | General ICU Care | Central Venous Access: Techniques

Central Venous Access: Techniques
Session Overview
Description
This session describes the contraindications for central venous catheter insertion, the use of ultrasound in insertion, the technique of insertion, and the nuances associated with different sites of insertion. It also promotes a safe insertion culture and post-procedure care.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• List the (relative) contraindications to central venous catheterisation
• Describe the prerequisites for CVC insertion, pre-procedure risk assessment, and ways to mitigate risks to patient safety
• Describe the role of ultrasound in CVC insertion, including advantages/disadvantages
• Describe ultrasound anatomy of central veins and surrounding structures on ultrasound
• Describe the procedure of CVC insertion, in a safe and structured method

Prerequisites
Before commencing this session you should complete:

• Central Venous Access: Indications, Sites and Complications (001-0256)

Central venous catheterization is an essential skill for those caring for critically-ill patients in the high-dependency and intensive care environment. A competent practitioner always takes a safe and methodical approach, assessing for appropriate indication(s) and excluding contraindications, before proceeding. They should be familiar with the equipment and technique, including the use of ultrasound.

Ultrasound use has become entrenched in daily practice and the development of ultrasound proficiency is fundamental to patient management in the critical care setting, where it can be used for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.

This session describes the use of ultrasound for the technique of safe insertion of central venous catheters in the critically-ill patient.