Skills Checklist: Ultrasound-Guided CVC Insertion
Skills Checklist: Ultrasound-Guided CVC Insertion
Completion requirements
View
Step 3 · Skills Checklist
Ultrasound-guided CVC insertion (simulation)
Use this checklist on the day. Your faculty member will use the same steps when giving feedback.
Preparation
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| Confirms the indication and checks for contraindications | ☐ |
| Checks clotting, anticoagulants, allergies and observations | ☐ |
| Explains the procedure, alternatives and risks; consent recorded | ☐ |
| Completes the sign in with an assistant; monitoring with ECG attached | ☐ |
| Positions the patient head-down (neck site) | ☐ |
| Prepares the kit: flushes lumens, checks the wire | ☐ |
Ultrasound
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| Selects the linear probe and sets depth and gain | ☐ |
| Identifies the vein and artery and shows the vein compresses | ☐ |
| Scans along the vessel and chooses a safe level and path | ☐ |
Asepsis
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| Hand hygiene, cap, mask, sterile gown and gloves | ☐ |
| Chlorhexidine skin preparation, allowed to dry; large sterile drape | ☐ |
| Sterile probe cover and gel | ☐ |
| Time out before the needle | ☐ |
Seldinger insertion
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| Local anaesthetic, aspirating before injecting | ☐ |
| Needle into the vein under real-time ultrasound with the tip in view | ☐ |
| Passes the guidewire gently and keeps hold of it | ☐ |
| Removes the needle over the wire | ☐ |
| Confirms the wire is in the vein on ultrasound before dilating | ☐ |
| Skin nick; dilates only as far as needed | ☐ |
| Passes the catheter over the wire; wire seen at the hub before advancing | ☐ |
| Removes the wire and shows it is intact | ☐ |
Completion
| Step | Done |
|---|---|
| Aspirates and flushes every lumen | ☐ |
| Secures the line and applies a sterile dressing | ☐ |
| Sign out: sharps, wire check, position check requested, documentation and handover | ☐ |
Remember
This checklist is for simulation practice. Clinical competence is assessed in your workplace, under your employer's procedures.
Sources for this chapter
- Bodenham A, Babu S, Bennett J, et al. Association of Anaesthetists of Great Britain and Ireland: Safe vascular access 2016. Anaesthesia 2016;71(5):573–585
- Loveday HP, Wilson JA, Pratt RJ, et al. epic3: national evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare-associated infections in NHS hospitals in England. J Hosp Infect 2014;86(Suppl 1):S1–S70
- Centre for Perioperative Care. National Safety Standards for Invasive Procedures 2 (NatSSIPs 2), 2023. See NHS England: NatSSIPs
Site mode