Sunday, April 5, 2009

Sunday April 5, 2009

Q; You inserted a central venous line in a patient with hypoxemic respiratory failure. Procedure went uneventful. Post-procedure CXR is below. What's your concern?






Answer: Arterial Cannulation

Notice - the catheter is taking a sharp left turn just distal to the clavicle.

The best approach in such situation is to obtain radial ABG and ABG from central line to compare. Also to hook central line to monitor to see waveform which may clearly show arterial waveforms.