Ultrasonic real time guidance for subclavian venipuncture.

To minimize the complications arising from the subclavian venipuncture, ultrasonically (2-D Doppler) guided puncture was tried upon ten patients. Venipuncture was successful in nine patients whose subclavian vein was visualized by 2-D Doppler. In one patient, the subclavian vein had shifted cephalad, so the subclavian venipuncture was abandoned. Ultrasonically guided venipuncture is thought to be safer and a more sure method for subclavian venipuncture.