Complications of central venous catheterization

For two years we have performed 250 central catheterizations veins (subclavian - 187, femoral - 63) in 202 patients. In 26 of them, catheterization was performed twice, and in 11 - three times. The duration of the stay of the catheter in the vein ranged from several hours to 46 days, on average 5-7 days. Most often, we used catheterization of the central vein in patients requiring continuous parenteral nutrition (122), with acute massive blood loss (57), and in 23 patients the reason for catheterization was terminal conditions. Complications were observed in 23 patients (11.4%). They can be divided into 2 groups: complications associated with a violation of the catheterization technique, and complications caused by prolonged presence of the catheter in the lumen of the vein. There were no fatal complications, however, any of them posed a threat, especially with delayed recognition, and always aggravated the patient's condition.