Abstract: Objective To explore prevention and handling strategies on common complications of subclavian central venous catheters (CVC) in patients with tumor. Methods One thousand four hundred and eighty-five patients with malignant tumor undergone subclavian CVC in our hospital from August 2001 to July 2008 were retrospectively analyzed to study correlative complications and handling strategies. Results Complications occurred in 98 cases (6.59 %), including 22 cases of puncturing the artery by mistake(1.48%), four cases of puncturing the internal jugular vein by mistake(0.27%), two cases of pneumothorax(0.13%), three cases of arrhythmia(0.20%), one case of local hematoma(0.06%), thirty-six cases of infection after catheterization(2.42%), twenty-five cases of catheter obstruction(1.68%), five cases of catheter prolapse(0.34%). Conclusion Although subclavian CVC has certain risk, the complications can be prevented and reduced along with more accumulated clinical experience. Subclavian CVC is a safe method to carry out venipuncture for tumor patients.

Key words: tumor, subclavian central venous catheters, complication