Aim: To compare the optimal position of the tip of the central venous catheter when inserted using a standardized measurement versus when inserted without a standardized measurement.

Material and methods: A prospective non-randomized study was conducted from July 2019 to March 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: the standardized measurement technique group and the control group. The control group had the catheter length inserted at the discretion of the physician who performed the procedure. The position of the catheter tip was then verified on a chest radiograph. Statistical analysis was performed using the Fisher or Chi-square test, with statistical significance set at <0.05.

Results: Of the 134 patients who required a central venous catheter, 55 underwent the standardized measurement technique and 79 were controls. In the group with the right jugular insertion site, the subgroup that underwent the standardized measurement technique had a relative risk (RR) of 5.9 (95% confidence interval [CI] 3.0-11.5, p <0.001) of presenting optimal position compared to the control group. In the group with the left jugular insertion site, the RR was 1.9 (95% CI 1.0-3.5, p=0.02).

Conclusions:The standardized measurement technique was associated with a higher frequency of optimal catheter position in the right jugular site. Statistical significance was found in the left jugular site for the female group.