> Products > Arrow InView > The Case for Ultrasound

THE CASE FOR ULTRASOUND

Ultrasound helps physicians and nurses provide safer, more efficient insertions of both central venous catheters (CVCs) and peripherally inserted central catheters (PICCs).

Locates veins not visible or palpable
"The Impact of Ultrasound on PICC Placement," published in The Journal of the Association for Vascular Access (JAVA) reports that veins that are neither visible nor palpable can be located with ultrasound.¹

Boosts rate of successful PICC cannulation
Using ultrasound, the rate of successful cannulation on the first attempt increases to 94%, versus 73% without.^2,3

It is the ideal CVC insertion technique
JAVA indicates that the ideal CVC insertion technique is ultrasound-guided placement.⁴

Increases insertion accuracy and provides vessel assessment
Ultrasound-guided CVC placement makes it possible to identify the exact position of the target vein and detect possible anatomical variants or thrombosis in the vessel.⁵

Decreases first insertion attempt failure rate
With ultrasound-guided insertion, there is a 41% decrease in failure on the first CVC placement attempt and a decrease of overall attempts to obtain successful cannulation by, on average, 1.5 attempts.⁵

REFERENCES

Reduces complications during CVC insertion
There are over 10 years of proof documenting ultrasound's ability to reduce risk for central line insertions.

• A 1996 meta-study found ultrasound lowers the risk of complications during central line insertion by 78%.⁶
• J.M. Rothschild, M.D., M.P.H., Harvard Medical School, notes that ultrasound-guided CVC insertion is associated with a significant reduction in placement failures as compared with the usual landmark techniques.⁶
• Rothschild cites several advantages for ultrasound-guided CVC insertion, including:

Detecting anatomic variations and exact vessel location

Avoiding central veins with pre-existing thrombosis that may prevent successful CVC placement

Guiding both guidewire and catheter placement after initial needle insertion

Decreases needle penetration and related risks

• Studies show that using ultrasound guidance for internal jugular CVC insertion can reduce the risk of failed catheter placement by 86%.⁵
• Ultrasound decreases the number of needle penetrations needed to cannulate a vein by 42%.^1,2,3
• Ultrasound's ability to provide an accurate pre-insertion venous assessment can decrease the risk of hematoma, pneumothorax, thrombosis and stenosis.^1,2,3

Dramatically reduces patient waiting time

• In the Journal of Parenteral and Enteral Nutrition, Robinson et al. reported that ultrasound-aided PICC insertion was associated with an 80% decrease in average patient waiting time.²
• Placement costs were reduced by 24% after ultrasound was instituted.²
• Ultrasound facilitated more timely hospital discharges.²
• Patients are less likely to endure uncomfortable, prolonged and possibly unsuccessful attempts at central venous cannulation with ultrasound-guided CVC placement.⁷

REFERENCES