Guidelines and Checklists

Hospitals, national patient safety organizations, and professional associations have recently implemented guidelines and checklists that include pressure measurement as standard practice during the insertion of central venous catheters.

The Washington State Hospital Association (WSHA)

The WSHA, a membership organization representing community hospitals and several health-related organizations in Washington, provides a central line checklist to its members that include mandatory pressure measurement (www.wsha.org/files/82/Appendix_L_VMMC%20Checklist.doc)

The Institute for Healthcare Improvement (www.ihi.org)

The IHI has provided to members a central line checklist that includes pressure measurement as part of the standard central line insertion protocol (http://www.ihi.org/IHI/Topics/CriticalCare/IntensiveCare/Tools/CentralLineInsertionChecklist.htm).

Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)

In May 2009 the AHRQ, an agency of the Public Health Service of the federal Department of Health and Human Services, added a Central Line Insertion Checklist that requires pressure measurement to its website (http://www.ahrq.gov/qual/clichklist.htm)

American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA)

In June 2010 the ASA published draft guidelines for central line insertion that include pressure transduction to avoid arterial cannulation (http://www.asahq.org/clinical/CentralVenous.htm)