Ultrasound-guided proximal versus distal axillary vein puncture in elderly patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Background: Ultrasound-guided axillary vein catheterization is now widely used in hospital, but it remains uncertain whether the distal axillary vein approach is more beneficial for seniors than the proximal axillary vein approach. This study aims to compare the puncture success rate and anatomical characteristics between these two approaches.

Methods: Senior patients requiring central venous catheterization were enrolled and randomized to the proximal axillary vein group ( = 49) or the distal axillary vein group ( = 50).