Central venous catheterization site choice based on anatomical landmark technique: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background Internal jugular vein catheterization (IJVC) and subclavian vein catheterization (SCVC) have been the most preferred central venous catheterizations (CVC) clinically. Individual preference and institutional routine dominate the traditional CVC choice; however, it is lack of high-level evidence. We sought to provide better clinical strategy for CVC site choice based on anatomical landmark technique between IJVC and SCVC. Methods We systematically reviewed eligible studies from PubMed, OVID, Cochrane and ClinicalTrials.Gov till February 2020. The primary outcomes were catheterization time and overall success rate, and the secondary outcomes were the first-attempt success rate and the instant mechanical complications. Ethical problems are not applicable. Results A total of 3378 patients from 7 studies were included in the analyses. Neither difference was found on the catheterization time (SMD 95% CI: −0.095–0.124, p = 0.792), nor any difference on the overall success rate (RR = 1.017, 95% CI: 0.927–1.117, p = 0.721, I 2 = 89.6%) between the 2 procedures. However, subgroup analyses showed overall success rate of IJVC was significantly lower than that of SCVC (RR = 0.906, 95% CI: 0.850–0.965, p = 0.002) in adults. The first-attempt success rate of IJVC group was higher in the adults (RR = 1.472, 95% CI: 1.004–2.156, p = 0.047). No significance was detected in arterial injury (RR = 1.137, 95% CI: 0.541–2.387, p = 0.735) and pneumothorax (RR = 0.600, 95% CI: 0.32–1.126, p = 0.112) between the two procedures. Hematoma was significantly more in IJVC group than that in SCVC group (RR = 2.824, 95% CI: 1.181–6.751, p = 0.02). Conclusions Compared with IJVC, SCVC shows a higher overall success rate while a lower first-attempt success rate in adults, and has involved with less hematoma. PROSPERO Registration CRD42020165444.