Acute non-infectious complications of central venous catheterization at the Kenyatta National Hospital

Abstract

A total of one hundred and thirty patients, eighty two male and forty eight female patients requiring central venous cannulation were followed up for acute noninfectious complications. Patients age ranged from 3 years to 89 years with a median age of 35.3 years. The prevalence of acute non-infectious complications was found to be 23.1%. The complications encountered were Local haematoma (14.6%), failure to catheterize (7.7%), Arterial puncture (3.9%), Bleeding around the puncture site (3.1%) and ectopic ventricular beats (0.8%). The preferred vein of central venous catheterization was right subclavian at the Kenyatta National Hospital. No fatal nor life threatening complications were encountered hence central venous cannulation is still a safe procedure and should continue to be performed at Kenyatta National Hospital as appropriate