Central venous catheter tip location and catheter-related complications in advance-aged critical patients

Objective To analyze the relation between 2 locations of central venous catheter (CVC) tip and catheter-related complications in advance-aged critical patients. Methods Three hundred and eleven advance-aged critical patients who underwent central venous catheterization in our hospital from September 2007 to March 2012 were divided into superior vena cava (SVC)group and right atrium (RA) level group according to the position of CVC tip. Catheter-related complications, catheter-used time and prognosis of the patients were observed. Results No significant difference was found in catheter-related complications and clinical prognosis between the two groups except that the proportion of relapsed shallow catheters than that of relapsed deep catheters (4.7%vs 0.5%, P=0.019). Conclusion The CVC tip does not significantly affect the catheter-related complications and the prognosis of patients no matter its position is shallow or deep.