Central venous catheter (CVC) placement in the intensive care unit (ICU) is a common practice and is being increasingly used also in general wards. Its use is associated with both mechanical and infectious complications.OBJECTIVE:To determine the infectious and mechanical complication rate of central venous catheterization in an ICU.DESIGN:A retrospective study about complications of 1319 central venous catheter placements.SETTING:An 11-bed adult medical, surgical, neuro-trauma ICU at salmaniya medical complex, Bahrain.MATERIALS AND METHODS:This was a retrospective review of all central venous catheter inserted over 4 year's period from October 2002 to December 2006.RESULTS:There were 12 mechanical complications and 128 infectious complications total of 1319 CVCs placed.CONCLUSIONS:The CVC can be performed safely in an ICU if done by a competent physician with all aseptic precautions.
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