Routine chest roentgenogram after central venous catheter insertion is not always necessary

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the usefulness of routine radiologic control after the insertion of a central venous catheter as a tool that might modify treatment of patients. METHODS: A prospective study was made of 149 patients submitted to central venous catheter insertion. RESULTS: In 55% of the patients the roentgenogram showed an adequate placement of the catheter tip and in 3.6% it showed some abnormal finding. Ten modifications were carried out based on the radiologic results. The prolonged partial thromboplastin time value and the subjective degree of difficulty showed a statistical relation to the appearance of complications. The number of punctures above one related to abnormal radiologic findings. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that routine chest radiology after the insertion of a central venous catheter is not always necessary and that it should be ordered selectively, according to the findings made during the procedure and the subjective degree of difficulty.