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VOLUME 19 , ISSUE 1 ( 2015 ) > List of Articles

REVIEW ARTICLE

Confirmation of endovenous placement of central catheter using the ultrasonographic \"bubble test\"

Ajit S. Baviskar, Sagar C. Galwankar, Harshad C. Dongare

Keywords : Bubble test, central venous catheter, ultrasonography

Citation Information : Baviskar AS, Galwankar SC, Dongare HC. Confirmation of endovenous placement of central catheter using the ultrasonographic \"bubble test\". Indian J Crit Care Med 2015; 19 (1):38-41.

DOI: 10.4103/0972-5229.148642

License: CC BY-ND 3.0

Published Online: 01-12-2015

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2015; The Author(s).


Abstract

Insertion of central venous catheter (CVC) is the most common procedure to be performed in Intensive Care Units. Addition of ultrasonographic guidance to this procedure, which was initially performed blindly, has improved safety of this procedure. Confirmation of endovenous placement of CVC though, is tricky, as methods for confirmation are either operator dependent, time-consuming or not available at bedside. Prospective observational study was carried out to study feasibility of use of sonobubble test to confirm the presence of CVC within central vein. After insertion of CVC in the internal jugular, subclavian or axillary vein, a 10 ml bolus of shaken saline microbubble is injected through port of CVC, and opacification of right atrium is observed in xiphoid view on ultrasonography. The Sonobubble test was helpful for dynamic confirmation of endovenous placement of CVC and prevented complications such as arterial puncture and cannulation. We recommend its use following CVC insertion.


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