Optimal insertion depth of central venous catheter through the right internal jugular vein, verified by transesophageal echocardiography

Abstract This prospective observational study investigated the optimal insertion depth of the central venous catheter through the right internal jugular vein using transesophageal echocardiography. After tracheal intubation, the anesthesiologist inserted a probe for esophageal echocardiography into the patient’s esophagus. The investigators placed the catheter tip 2 cm above the crista terminalis with echocardiography, which was defined as the optimal point. We measured the inserted length of the catheter. Pearson correlation tests were performed with the measured optimal depth and some patient parameters. We made a new formula for placing the catheter at the optimal position. A total of 89 subjects were enrolled in this trial. The correlation coefficient between the measured optimal depth and the patient’s parameters was highest for patient height (0.703, p < 0.001). We made a new formula of ‘height (cm)/10–1.5 cm’. The accuracy rate of this formula for the optimal zone was 71.9% (95% confidence interval; 62.4–81.4%), which was highest among the previous formulas or guidelines, when we compared. In conclusion, the central venous catheter tip was evaluated with transesophageal echocardiography, and we could make a new formula of ‘height (cm)/10–1.5’, which seemed to be better than other previous guidelines.