Combined POCUS and Interventional-Interoperative Scientific Session 1
To Do Or Not To Do: Barriers to Ultrasound-Guided Subclavian Vein Cannulation in the Emergency Department
Monday, April 8, 2024
4:40pm – 4:47pm
Location: 410
Authors: Nicholas Leonard, Washington University in St Louis Blake Forte, Washington University Tiffany Rosenzweig, Washington University School of Medicine Laura Wallace, Washington University in St Louis Enyo Ablordeppey, Washington University in St Louis ,
Despite lower rates of infection and decreased complication rates, emergency physicians do not select ultrasound guided subclavian vein cannulation over internal jugular vein cannulation or subclavian vein landmark cannulation. Researchers conducted a survey of emergency medicine faculty and residents in a large academic medical center to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and comfort regarding SCV cannulation with and without ultrasound guidance, seeking to identify current practices and barriers to the procedure. Results showed that 52% of physicians lacked formal training in ultrasound-guided SCV cannulation, and 38% reported rarely using ultrasound guidance. The research reveals that despite acknowledging the safety benefits, emergency physicians face crucial barriers to adopting ultrasound-guided SCV cannulation, primarily related to their comfort and familiarity with the technique. This insight serves as a foundation for the development of targeted educational interventions aimed at increasing and sustaining adoption of ultrasound guided SCV cannulation within the emergency department.