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Central venous catheters (CVCs) are frequently used, but the rate of complications is high. This study evaluates the effects of a short training program for CVC insertion in a university-based teaching hospital. A sample of adults with CVCs inserted outside the intensive care unit was selected from two academic years: 2015, year without structured training, and 2016, year with structured training. Clinical and laboratory information, as well as the procedure's characteristics and complications (mechanical and infectious) were collected. The incidence of complications before and after the training was compared. A total of 1502 punctures were evaluated. Comparing the pre- and post-training period, there was an increase in the choice for jugular veins and the use of ultrasound. A numerical reduction in the rate of complications was identified (RR 0.732; 95% CI 0.48-1.12; P = 0.166). This difference was driven by a statistically significant lower rate of catheter-related infections (RR 0.78; 95% CI 0.64-0.95; P = 0.047). In the multivariate analysis, aspects regarding technique (ultrasound use, multiple punctures) and year of training were associated with outcomes. Structured training reduces the rate of complications related to CVC insertion, especially regarding infections.

Introduction: Central venous catheters are fundamental to daily clinical practice. This procedure is mainly performed by residents, often without supervision or structured training., Objective: To describe the characteristics of central venous catheterization and the complication rate related to it., Method: Retrospective cohort study. Adult patients undergoing central venous catheter insertion out of the intensive care unit (ICU) of a teaching hospital were selected from March 2014 to February 2015. Data were collected from medical charts using an electronic form. Clinical and laboratory characteristics from patients, procedure characteristics, and mechanical and infectious complications rates were assessed. Patients with and without complications were compared., Results: Three hundred and eleven (311) central venous catheterizations were evaluated. The main reasons to perform the procedure were lack of peripheral access, chemotherapy and sepsis. There were 20 mechanical complications (6% of procedures). Arterial puncture was the most common. Procedures performed in the second semester were associated with lower risk of complications (odds ratio 0.35 [95CI 0.12-0.98; p=0.037]). Thirty-five (35) catheter-related infection cases (11.1%) were reported. They were related to younger patients and procedures performed by residents with more than one year of training. Procedures performed after the first trimester had a lower chance of infection., Conclusion: These results show that the rate of mechanical complications of central venous puncture in our hospital is similar to the literature, but more attention should be given to infection prevention measures.