Application of ultrasound-guided for internal jugular vein cannulation in infants

Objective To compare the differences between the ultrasound imaging technique and the conventional anatomical landmark method in internal jugular vein puncture in infants.Methods Fifty-three infants,aged less than 36 months,undergoing elective surgery for congenital disease of digestive tract or heart were randomized into two groups. In the landmarks group (group L), the patients' internal jugular veins were cannulated using the traditional method of anatomic landmarks. In the ultrasound group (group U), cannulation was guided using an ultrasound imaging. The success rate, puncture time, numbers of cannulation attempts and complication were recorded for the two groups.Results The cannulation success rate at first attempt at the group U and group K was 96.43% and 80% (P0.05), the incidence of complication was 3.57% and 28% (P0.01), respectively. The cannulation time and the number of attempts were less in the group U than in the group L(P0.05).Conclusion Ultrasound-guided localization of the internal jugular vein is superior to the landmarks technique in terms of success rate, speed, and decrease incidence of complication in infants.