The Use of the Internal Mammary Vein for Central Venous Access
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Read the article on jpedsurg.org ↗Article · Dec 2020 · 1 min read
In brief
In brief
Retrospective study of 11 patients (8 pediatric, 3 adult) demonstrates the internal mammary vein as a viable alternative for central venous catheter placement when traditional access sites are exhausted. Technical success was achieved in 9/11 patients with mean catheter dwell time of 141 days, primarily for parenteral nutrition in intestinal failure patients.
Written by the GCMD Library team from the article.
Abstract
Purpose: To describe the use of the internal mammary vein as an alternative access for central venous catheters.
Methods: We performed a retrospective review of patients who underwent placement of central venous catheters via the internal mammary vein. Patient demographics, indication for venous access, technical success, catheter type, dwell time and indication for exchange or removal were recorded.
Results: Placement of central venous catheters via the internal mammary vein was attempted in 11 patients including 8 children (4 males, mean age 5.7 years) and 3 adults. The most common indication was parenteral nutrition in patients with intestinal failure (7/11). Initial needle access of the vein was successful in all patients. Catheter placement was successful in 9 and unsuccessful in 2 patients due to occlusion of the superior vena cava. There were no immediate complications. A total of 20 catheters of various sizes (3–14.5 French) and lengths (8–23 cm) were either placed (n = 12) or exchanged (n = 8). The most common indications for catheter exchange were poor function and malposition (7/8). Four catheters were removed for infection and 4 were accidentally removed. The mean dwell time was 141 days (range 0–963 days) per catheter for a total of 2829 catheter days. The total mean dwell time per patient, including primarily placed and exchanged catheters, was 314 days (range 5–963 days).
CONCLUSIONS: The internal mammary vein may provide a safe alternative route for patients who have lost their traditional access veins.