Sunday January 21, 2007


Q: What is the maximum length of guide-wire to be advanced to avoid guide-wire lost and embolism during subclavian or internal jugular venous catheterization?


A: About 18 cm (may be little less in right IJ)

Beside not to loose control of guide-wire, it is appropriate to know the markings on guidewire of CVC kit used in your unit / hospital. Patient height is less reliable in predicting a safe wire length. 18 cm should be considered the upper limit of guidewire introduced during central catheter placement in adults 1.


Related Previous Pearl: Peres Nomogram to calculate appropriate length of central line depth




Reference: click to get abstract

How much guidewire is too much? Direct measurement of the distance from subclavian and internal jugular vein access sites to the superior vena cava-atrial junction during central venous catheter placement - Critical Care Medicine. 28(1):138-142, January 2000.