Using central venous pressure waveform to confirm the placement of an internal jugular central venous catheter in the intensive care unit

Background A mobile chest X-ray is traditionally performed to confirm the position of an internal jugular central venous catheter (CVC) after placement in the intensive care unit (ICU). Using chest radiography to confirm CVC position often results in delays in authorising the use of the CVC, requires the deployment of additional human resources, and is costly. Objective This study aimed to determine the feasibility and accuracy of using the central venous pressure (CVP) waveform to confirm the placement of internal jugular CVCs. Methods This retrospective study was conducted in a single quaternary ICU over a 6-month period. We included adult patients who had internal jugular CVC inserted and CVP transduced as part of their routine care in the ICU. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy of CVP waveform analysis in confirming the position of internal jugular CVC relative to chest radiography were calculated. Results A total of 241 internal jugular CVCs were inserted (in 219 patients, 35.6% female), and the CVP waveform was assessed. In 231 cases, this suggested adequate placement in a central vein, which corresponded with a correct position on subsequent chest X-ray. On six occasions, the CVP waveforms were interpreted as suboptimal; however, on chest X-rays, the CVCs were noted to be in a suitable position (sensitivity: 97.5%). Four suboptimal CVP waveforms were obtained, and they correctly identified CVC malposition on subsequent chest X-ray (specificity: 100%). The average time from CVC insertion to radiological completion was 118 minutes. Conclusion CVP waveform analysis provides a feasible and reliable method for confirming adequate internal jugular CVC position. The use of chest radiography can be limited to cases where suboptimal CVP waveforms are obtained.