The application of intracavitary electrocardiogram for tip location of femoral vein catheters in chemotherapy patients with superior vena cava obstruction

• Published in: The journal of vascular access 2021-07, Vol.22 (4), p.613-622
• Main Authors: Ma, Mengdan, Zhang, Jinghui, Hou, Jianmei, Gong, Zhihong, Hu, Zixin, Chen, Shujie, Kong, Xiaoya, Shi, Zhengkun
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1129-7298; 1724-6032
• DOI: 10.1177/1129729820958334

Background: Most studies focused on the application of intracavitary electrocardiogram (IC-ECG) location in superior vena cava access catheterization, this study aimed to explore the effect of IC-ECG for tip location of femoral vein catheters in chemotherapy patients with superior vena cava obstruction (SVCO). Methods: A total of 158 patients placed catheters through superficial femoral vein from July 2016 to May 2019 were enrolled in the randomized controlled study. The patients were divided into two groups by envelope lottery method: X-ray location was used in the control group (n = 79); IC-ECG location was used in the observation group (n = 79). The catheters should be located at or near the inferior vena cava (IVC)-right atrium (RA) junction (above the level of diaphragm within the IVC). The general information of patients, clinical catheterization effects and catheter-related complications were compared between the groups. Results No significant differences in general information, catheter obstruction, catheter-related thrombosis, catheter exit-site bleeding and infection were found between the groups. The rate of successful insertion at the first attempt and patient satisfaction in the observation group were significantly higher than that in the control group (p