Abstract
Aim: To report single centre experience with use of wireless ultrasound probe for bedside venous line placement in COVID-19 patients. Method: From October 2020 to September 2021, we performed venous catheter insertions in 209 patients with COVID-19.
The procedure was done at the angiographic suite or bedside. One hundred seventy-six patients with COVID-19 underwent bedside venous line placement.
There were 115 males and 61 females with average age 74.9 years (from 16 to 96 years). We used two types wireless linear US probes: Clarius Scanner L7 HD (Clarius Mobile Health Corp, Vancouver, Kanada) or4Echo LeapMed (Guide Imaging, Oostende, Belgie).
Large 12.9-inch tablets (iPad Pro, Apple Inc, Cupertino, USA) were used to display the ultrasound image. The ECG was used to verify the tip position of central inserted centralvenous catheter and PICCs.
Results: The venous line was successfully inserted in 172 (97.7 %) patients at the first attempt. Four patients underwent second procedure because of vein dissection in 2 patients and hematoma and vein spasm in 2 patients.
All repeated procedures were successful. The most common venous lines we used were midline in 143 patients.
The PICC was inserted in 26 patients and centralvenous catheter (including dialysis catheter) was placed in 7 patients. Conclusion: The use of wireless US probes is convenient for bedside venous line placement.
The main advantage is simple manipulation, preservation of anti-epidemic conditions and easier probe's dressing with sterile cover, because there is not cable between US probe and tablet.