Skip to main content
Journal cover image

Thrombotic, infectious, and procedural complications of the jugular bulb catheter in the intensive care unit.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Coplin, WM; O'Keefe, GE; Grady, MS; Grant, GA; March, KS; Winn, HR; Lam, AM
Published in: Neurosurgery
July 1997

OBJECTIVE: An assessment of the thrombotic, infectious, and technical complications of continuous jugular bulb catheter monitoring in the intensive care unit (ICU) was made. METHODS: Over a 1-year period, 44 patients suffering from traumatic brain injury, subarachnoid hemorrhage, or stroke received jugular bulb catheter monitoring in the ICU. They were followed for catheter insertion complications and the development of bacteremia. In 20 patients chosen randomly, an ultrasonographic evaluation was performed after removal of the catheter for an assessment of internal jugular vein thrombosis. RESULTS: Of the 44 patients, 1 became bacteremic; the source was identified as a thoracostomy site. Among the complications related to the 44 catheter insertions, there were 2 instances of carotid artery puncture (4.5%), 1 misplaced catheter (thoracic placement), and 1 clinically insignificant hematoma. Of the 20 patients investigated with ultrasonography, 8 (40%) had nonobstructive, subclinical internal jugular vein thrombi after jugular bulb catheter monitoring (95% confidence interval, 19-61%). The median monitoring duration was 3 days (range, 1-6 d). No clinical factor was identified to be associated with thrombus formation. CONCLUSION: We conclude the following: 1) the risk of bacteremia related to the jugular bulb catheter was negligible; 2) complications related to catheter insertion were rare and clinically insignificant; and 3) the incidence of subclinical internal jugular vein thrombosis after jugular bulb catheter monitoring is considerable. Although it is worthy to note this complication, no patient with a thrombus became symptomatic in the present series. The risk-benefit assessment of this monitoring technique must include consideration of subclinical thrombosis.

Duke Scholars

Published In

Neurosurgery

DOI

ISSN

0148-396X

Publication Date

July 1997

Volume

41

Issue

1

Start / End Page

101 / 107

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
  • Thrombosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Risk
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Length of Stay
  • Jugular Veins
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
NLM
Coplin, W. M., O’Keefe, G. E., Grady, M. S., Grant, G. A., March, K. S., Winn, H. R., & Lam, A. M. (1997). Thrombotic, infectious, and procedural complications of the jugular bulb catheter in the intensive care unit. Neurosurgery, 41(1), 101–107. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006123-199707000-00022
Coplin, W. M., G. E. O’Keefe, M. S. Grady, G. A. Grant, K. S. March, H. R. Winn, and A. M. Lam. “Thrombotic, infectious, and procedural complications of the jugular bulb catheter in the intensive care unit.Neurosurgery 41, no. 1 (July 1997): 101–7. https://doi.org/10.1097/00006123-199707000-00022.
Coplin WM, O’Keefe GE, Grady MS, Grant GA, March KS, Winn HR, et al. Thrombotic, infectious, and procedural complications of the jugular bulb catheter in the intensive care unit. Neurosurgery. 1997 Jul;41(1):101–7.
Coplin, W. M., et al. “Thrombotic, infectious, and procedural complications of the jugular bulb catheter in the intensive care unit.Neurosurgery, vol. 41, no. 1, July 1997, pp. 101–07. Pubmed, doi:10.1097/00006123-199707000-00022.
Coplin WM, O’Keefe GE, Grady MS, Grant GA, March KS, Winn HR, Lam AM. Thrombotic, infectious, and procedural complications of the jugular bulb catheter in the intensive care unit. Neurosurgery. 1997 Jul;41(1):101–107.
Journal cover image

Published In

Neurosurgery

DOI

ISSN

0148-396X

Publication Date

July 1997

Volume

41

Issue

1

Start / End Page

101 / 107

Location

United States

Related Subject Headings

  • Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color
  • Thrombosis
  • Subarachnoid Hemorrhage
  • Risk
  • Neurology & Neurosurgery
  • Monitoring, Physiologic
  • Middle Aged
  • Male
  • Length of Stay
  • Jugular Veins