Clinical analysis of central venous catheterization of blood purification therapy

Objective To review the clinical applications, complications and its manage- ment of central venous catheterizations in patients undergoing blood purification therapy. Methods A retrospective study was performed in 223 cases of patients undergoing blood purification therapy with central venous catheters during February , 2004 to June ,2005, which include 193 internal jugular venous catheterizations (181 on the right side,12 on the left side), 21 subclavian venous catheterizations and 9 femoral venous catheterizations (8 on the right side,1 on the left side). The complications and their management were analyzed. Results The common acute complications of catheterizations included inadvertent arterial puncture in 8 cases (3.6%), local hematoma in 10 cases (4.5%) and local bleeding in 3 cases(1.3%). The common long-term complications of catheterizations included infection in 28 cases(12.6%), catheter obstruction in 9 cases(4.0%), catheter inadvertent withdrawal in 5 cases (2.2%) and catheter inadequate blood flow(180ml/min) in 21 cases(9.4%). The catheter was kept for 3 to 155 days. Conclusion Central venous catheterization is a convenient and easy way to set up a vascular access for blood purification therapy and it has a low rate of complications which can be controlled easily and safely.