Use of ultrasound guidance in central venous catheter placement by emergency physicians in Saudi Arabia.

Journal Article

2020

Published in: DOI: 10.15537/smj.2020.7.25162

Alrajhi, Zohair A Al Aseri, Reema M Al Hussein, Mohammed A Malabarey, Bader A AlYahya, Faisal A Al Moaiqel, Mariam A Al Ansari, Khaled N . 2020

To determine the ultrasound guidance for central venous catheter (USG-CVC) placement rate of emergency physicians (EPs) in Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

METHODS:

 

A cross-sectional survey study regarding the respondents' demographic profiles, formal and informal training in USG-CVC placement, experiences, and attitudes towards the procedure was emailed to all EPs registered with the Saudi Commission for Health Specialties (SCFHS) between October and December 2018.

RESULTS:

 

In total, 234/350 SCFHS-registered EPs completed the survey; the response rate was 66.9%. Most respondents (70.5%) were board-certified in emergency medicine (EM). Ninety percent indicated that US device for CVC placement assistance was available. Most EPs (78.2%) had performed USG-CVC placement; the US usage rate correlated significantly with recent graduation from residency (p= 0.048). In total, 83.3% received formal training during residency. Of the 234 respondents, 53.8% felt extremely comfortable with CVC placement with USG and 19.7% without USG (p less than 0.01). Nevertheless, most respondents desired further USG-CVC training.

CONCLUSION:

 

Despite existing evidence and a consensus on its superiority over the landmark technique, USG-CVC placement has not been adopted by a small proportion of EPs into clinical practice. Formal training, education, and institutional provision of permanent onsite US machines may address any barriers

• Publication Work Type: original article
• Volume Number: 41
• Issue Number: 7
• Magazine \ Newspaper: Saudi Medical Journal
• Pages: 698-702