Introduction of central venous pressure catheters through arm veins with a high success rate.

Studies were carried out to develop a more successful method of inserting central venous catheters through arm veins without using electrocardiographic or fluoroscopic monitoring. It was found that a running infusion attached to a Sorensen catheter gave a success rate of 48 per cent. The highest success rates (98 per cent) occurred when the basilic vein was used, with the patient positioned so that the upper part of the body was raised at 45-90 degrees to the horizontal and using a Bardic 16 gauge catheter with a special insertion technique, which is described. This represents a great improvement over the usual success rate of 70 to 80 per cent.