A new wireless device for bedside assessment of tip location of central venous access devices using intracavitary ECG: A retrospective study

Abstract

Intracavitary electrocardiography (IC-ECG) is a non-invasive method for intraprocedural tip location during central venous catheterization. Over the last 20 years, the IC-ECG method has been thoroughly investigated and many studies have confirmed its wide applicability and feasibility, as well as its great accuracy and safety in different populations of patients and in different types of central venous access devices (CVADs). This retrospective study presents a two-center experience with tip location of central venous catheters using IC-ECG, by means of a new wireless portable device. Tip location was performed during 983 insertions of CVADs at bedside, using this new device. Clinical conditions with limited or no applicability of IC-ECG were excluded. The feasibility of IC-ECG, as performed using the novel device, was 92.2%. This wireless device may play an important role in central venous catheterization at bedside, since it is pocket-sized, particularly easy to use, and easy to sanify after use.