Assessment of central venous catheters applied in pediatric patients at emergency department

Central venous catheterization, an effective method for intravenous therapy, is commonly used at emergency departments and intensive care units. in this study, we aimed to assess the complications of central venous catheterization procedure in pediatric patients at emergency department and to seek possible risk factors for complications. this study included a total of 64 patients (41 males (64.1%) and 23 females (35.9%)) who underwent central venous catheterization between january 1, 2011 and may 31, 2013. personal records of the patients were retrospectively assessed using the hospital records system. a total of 64 catheters [53 (%82.8) femoral, 5 (%7.8) subclavian, and 6 (%9.4) jugular] were inserted in all cases. one arrhythmia episode, one pneumothorax, five arterial punctures, and 4 hematomas were observed, making up a total of 11 complications (17.2%). no statistically significant relationship was observed between development of complications and age, gender, indication for central venous catheterization, anatomical site preferred for catheter insertion, time of the day of performance of the procedure, and the level of training of the performing resident (p>0.05). hypovolemic shock as an indication for the procedure and three or more attempts to access target vein during insertion were significantly correlated with complications (p=0.015 and p=0.025, respectively). three or more attempts to access the target vein, as well as hypovolemic shock as an indication of the procedure, were risk factors for complications.