Abstract
Objective: To identify the use rate of ultrasound-guided technique for central venous catheter placement in tertiary hospitals in Manaus/Amazonas. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study carried out between November/2017 and August/2018. An electronic questionnaire was given to doctors who insert such access in three public and one private hospital. The frequency of ultrasound guidance and the main obstacles for its use were evaluated. For data analysis, the Epi Info program was used, with a 5% significance level. Results: 200 doctors were interviewed, 86.5% from public institutions and 46% were specialists. Despite the majority (74%) stating prior ultrasound use, the usage rate was 43.9%. The main difficulty was the lack of immediate availability of the device (68.2%). Among the 26% who never used the method, lack of training (69.2%) was the main barrier. Anatomical difficulties (80%), obesity (70%) and coagulation disorders (67%) were the leading motivators for the ultrasound use. Participants over the age of 50 reported less ultrasound use, but without statistical significance (p = 0.062). Conclusion: Despite the known benefits, ultrasonography is not routinely used in the city hospitals. Adequate training and easier access to devices seem to be the way of improving this scenario.
