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| Total number N = 1101 | Number and percent | Details |
|
| Unsuccessful first procedure | 8 (0.7%) | Two patients: right subclavian vein: narrow between the collar bone and the first costa. Not possible to insert the long-term catheter. A smaller short-term CVC was successfully introduced into the vein |
| One patient: history of several long-term catheters. Access through the right subclavian and then the right internal jugular (IJ) vein. The guidewire stopped inside the veins. Next day through fluoroscopy: recanalization through a thrombotic brachiocephalic vein |
| Two patients with several attempts via the left subclavian and left IJ vein: blood response, but impossible to enter the vein with the guidewire. One of the patients had a history of several long-term catheters. This patient was diagnosed with a central thrombus in the left brachiocephalic vein. The following day, the two patients had uncomplicated access through the right subclavian vein. One patient with the same problem, but on the opposite side |
| One patient with a history of several long-term catheters: Access through the left subclavian vein. Not possible to introduce the catheter. Later contrast-enhanced fluoroscopy revealed a narrow left brachiocephalic vein. A Hickman catheter was inserted without complications in the right subclavian vein |
| One patient with extreme obesity: left subclavian and left IJ vein. Several attempts. not possible to enter with the guidewire. The artery was also punctured. Successfully inserted long-term catheter via the right IJ vein the following day in a fluoroscopy lab |
|
| Malposition | 23 (2.1%) | Six left subclavian vein to right subclavian vein and five left subclavian vein to left IJ vein |
| One right subclavian vein to left subclavian vein and six right subclavian vein to right IJ vein |
| One right subclavian vein to left brachiocephalic vein and two left subclavian vein to right brachiocephalic vein |
| One right subclavian vein to right atrium and one left subclavian vein to left brachiocephalic vein |
| One catheter was left unchanged. Nine catheters were repositioned using a snare via a femoral vein access. Thirteen catheters were repositioned by opening the section under the collar bone and manipulating the catheter in the right position using fluoroscopy |
|
| Pneumothorax (PT) | 12 (1.1%) | Eight needed a chest tube, and four did not need a chest tube |
| Three procedures were described as uncomplicated. Nine were described with several attempts, arterial puncture or air in the syringe. Mean BMI in the PT group: 20.4. Mean BMI in the non-PT group: 24.5. P = 0.01 |
|
| Bleeding (hematoma) | 9 (0.8%) | No catheters were removed. Five patients used dalteparin or acetylsalicylic acid, and two of them had prolonged APTT in addition. Two patients had pathological lab (prolonged APTT or low platelet level). One patient had two arterial punctures and two vein punctures. One procedure was uncomplicated with normal lab and no use of anticoagulation |
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| Postoperative infection | 3 (0.27%) | The procedures were described as uncomplicated. All three patients were women with cancer. One patient had diabetes. Two of the patients had low leucocyte levels (1.8 and 2.8 × 109/L). Two patients had fever 2-3 days after insertion and positive blood cultures (staphylococcus in both). One patient had no fever, but local rubor and pain. Staphylococcus was found in the wound secretions. All three catheters were removed, and the patients recovered |
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| Nerve injury | 1 (0.1%) | One patient had short-lasting pain in the arm, which totally recovered |
| Wound rupture | 0 (0%) | |
| Malign arrhythmias | 0 (0%) | Malignant arrhythmias are defined as arrhythmias requiring intervention with drugs or cardioversion |
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