Prediction of air inflow during central venous catheter insertion: experimental study

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the incidence and amount of air inflow during central venous catheter (CVC) insertion. METHODS: This study was an experimental study aimed at designing an apparatus to implement blood vessel and blood flow in the human body. A 1.5-m long core tube with a Teflon tube, suction rubber tube, and polyvinyl chloride tube were made. This core tube was assumed to be the blood vessel of the human body. Blood was replaced with a saline solution. The saline solution was placed higher than the core tube and flowed into the inside of the tube by gravity. The CVC was injected 15-cm deep into the core tube. The air was collected through a 3-way valve into the upper tube. The experiments were carried out by differentiating the pressure in the tube, CVC insertion step, and diameter of the end of the catheter. The experiment was repeated 10 times under the same conditions. RESULTS: The amount of air decreased with increasing pressure applied to the tube. Air was not generated when the syringe needle was injected, and the amount of air increased with increasing size of the distal end catheter. CONCLUSION: To minimize the possibility of air embolism, it is necessary to close the distal end catheter at the earliest point as soon as possible.