Catheter Positioning

• Central venous catheters (CVC) inserted from the left side must make an acute angle downward when the enter the SVC from the innominate vein
• CVCs that do no make this turn can end up with the tip pointing directly at the lateral wall of the SVC
• CVCs in this position can cause perforation of the SVC
• If the catheter tip is pointing at the SVC, then advance the catheter further down