Memorial Hermann Healthcare System attained zero iatrogenic pneumothorax complications in multiple hospitals for a full year.

The Healthcare System accomplished this incredible feat in several of its prestigious hospitals, including Memorial Hermann Southeast, Memorial Hermann Sugar Land, Children’s Memorial Hermann, Memorial Hermann Katy, Memorial Hermann Northeast, Memorial Hermann Northwest, as well as eight community hospital emergency departments across its network. Integration of ultrasound guidance enabled Memorial Hermann hospitals to achieve unprecedented levels of patient safety and set a high standard for eliminating serious iatrogenic complications such as pneumothorax from central venous line placement. This shining achievement truly raises the bar for better patient care.

“If my wife or one of my children needed a central line, I would ask two questions. I would need to know the experience of the individual placing the line and whether or not he or she was using ultrasound guidance. And if they were not using ultrasound, I would find another doctor.”
—Michael Shabot, M.D., System Chief Medical Officer, Memorial Hermann Healthcare System

“We are very proud of our excellent outcomes and feel very confident that with consistent use of ultrasound guidance, we can continue to keep our rate of iatrogenic pneumothorax at zero.”
—Mayank C. Patel, M.D., Chair of Critical Care Medicine, Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital

“[Iatrogenic] Pneumothorax is a $20,000 mistake that can be prevented with use of bedside ultrasound. I’ve been amazed at how effective this technology is at preventing complications.”
—Michael Warneke, M.D., Medical Director of Quality, Memorial Hermann Southeast Hospital

Michael Shabot, MD, of Memorial Hermann Healthcare System, discusses iatrogenic pneumothorax and central line placement safety.

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The Evidence is Compelling

Real-time ultrasound guidance significantly improves first-pass procedural success and improves patient safety for a number of needle-based procedures, including central lines, thoracentesis and paracentesis.

Download Clinical_Econ_Value_Report.pdf         Download ReducingRisk.pdf

The Recommendations are Clear

Based on this robust evidence, multiple government organizations and societies advocate ultrasound guidance:

  • AHRQ – Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
  • NICE – National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
  • CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • American College of Surgeons
  • American College of Emergency Physicians
  • American College of Chest Physicians
  • American Board of Internal Medicine
  • Association for Vascular Access

Let Us Help You Lessen Line Placement Complications at Your Hospital

Download CentralLineEducation.pdf

Implement the Sonosite Central Line Management Training Program.

Sonosite is committed to quality care and partners with hospitals to achieve that goal. To facilitate the process, Sonosite has created the Central Line Management Program. This evidence-based program includes AHRQ, CDC and IHI recommendations and addresses both mechanical and infective complications of central venous catheters, allowing you to decrease:

A) Accidental punctures causing pneumothorax, hemothorax, or carotid injury
B) Central line associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI)