FEMORAL CATHETERS AND DEEP VENOUS THROMBOSIS - A PROSPECTIVE EVALUATION WITH VENOUS DUPLEX SONOGRAPHY

Femoral vein cannulation (FVC) with 8.5F Swan-Ganz catheter introducer s allows expeditious intravenous access and rapid volume infusion; how ever, the incidence of associated iliofemoral deep venous thrombosis ( DVT) is unknown. Trauma patients (n = 76) requiring unilateral FVC wer e prospectively entered into a study where they were resuscitated via FVC and serially evaluated with bilateral venous duplex sonography (VD S). The incidence of DVT in catheterized femoral veins was compared wi th that in uncatheterized femoral veins. Catheters were removed prompt ly and VDS was performed within 24 hours and weekly for 1 month. Iliof emoral DVTs were identified in 11 of the 76 patients (14%). Iliofemora l DVTs occurred on the cannulated side in 9 (81.8%) compared with 2 (1 8.2%) on the uncannulated side (p < 0.05). We conclude that the use of the 8.5F FVC is associated with an increased incidence of DVT and tha t despite its convenience, this technique should not be routine.