A 33-year-old male is admitted to the hospital after a violent, multiple car collision. His blood pressure is 89/39 mm Hg, and a central venous line is ordered to be placed. Which of the following structures is used as a landmark to place the tip of the catheter of the central venous line?
Carina
Subclan aery
Superior vena cava
Right atrium
The carina can easily be seen in radiograph. The carina is at the level of T4-5 (plane associated with the sternal angle of Louis). This landmark is commonly used to guide the placement of a central venous line.
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