CVC position on chest x-ray (summary)

This is a basic article for medical students and other non-radiologists

Chest x-ray CVC (central venous catheter) position should be assessed following initial placement and on subsequent radiographs.

Reference article

This is a summary article; for a more in-depth reference article see central venous catheter.

Summary

• insertion
  • may be inserted via
    • internal jugular vein (left or right)
    • subclavian vein (left or right)
• assessing position
  • window the image to best visualize the line
  • trace the line from its insertion towards the heart
  • visualize the tip of the line
    • tip should be at the cavoatrial junction
  • document the position of the line
• potential malposition
  • tip too high: proximal SVC
    • increased risk of thrombus formation
  • tip too low: distal right atrium or right ventricle
    • increased risk of arrhythmia
  • coiled or displaced in another vein​