J Korean Soc Radiol.  2012 Mar;66(3):229-233. 10.3348/jksr.2012.66.3.229.

A New Formula to Estimate the Length of Right Upper Extremity Vein from Elbow Crease to Carina Calculated by Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter Insertion through Right Basilic Vein Puncture

• Cho HH
• Jeon EY
• Lee HJ
• Lee H
• Koh SH
• Choi SY
• Lee KS
• Yoon DY
• Im HJ

• KMID: 1439418
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3348/jksr.2012.66.3.229

Abstract

PURPOSE
To measure the length of the upper extremity vein between the elbow crease and the carina (elbow crease to carina length, ECL), to facilitate the appropriate positioning of the tip of the peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC).
MATERIALS AND METHODS
A total of 124 patients (64 men and 60 women; mean age 65.2 +/- 15.4 years; range, 21-90 years) inserted with PICC through the right basilic vein under fluoroscopy were included in this retrospective study. The ECL was determined as follows: ECL = (distance from elbow crease to puncture site) + (the catheter length of PICC) - (distance from carina to catheter tip on post-procedural chest radiograph). We analyzed the relationship between ECL and patient height.
RESULTS
The mean ECL through right basilic vein was 42.07 +/- 4.03 cm (27.5 to 52.2 cm). ECL was found to be significantly correlated with patient height: ECL (cm) = 0.24 x patient height (cm) + 3.75.
CONCLUSION
The formula developed in our study would be helpful for predicting the optimal catheter length during a blind bedside procedure of PICC via the right basilic vein.

MeSH Terms

Catheters
Elbow
Fluoroscopy
Humans
Male
Ocimum basilicum
Punctures
Retrospective Studies
Thorax
Upper Extremity
Veins

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1 Scatter plot of the length of the elbow crease to carina through the right basilic vein (cm) vs. patient height. The elbow crease to carina length (cm) = 0.24 × patient height (cm) + 3.75.

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