Ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization (CVC) has become the standard of care. However, providers use a variety of approaches, encompassing the internal jugular vein (IJV), supraclavicular subclavian vein (SupraSCV), infraclavicular subclavian vein (InfraSCV), proximal axillary vein (ProxiAV), distal axillary vein (DistalAV), and femoral vein.

This review aimed to compare the first-pass success rate and arterial puncture rate for different approaches to ultrasound-guided CVC above the diaphragm.

In May 2023, Embase, MEDLINE, CENTRAL, ClinicalTrials.gov, and World Health Organization International Clinical Trials Platform were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing the 5 CVC approaches. The Confidence in Network Meta-Analysis tool was used to assess confidence. Thirteen RCTs (4418 participants and 13 comparisons) were included in this review.

The SupraSCV approach likely increased the proportion of first-attempt successes compared to the other 4 approaches. The SupraSCV first-attempt success demonstrated risk ratios (RRs) > 1.21 with a lower 95% confidence interval (CI) exceeding 1. Compared to the IJV, the SupraSCV approach likely increased the first-attempt success proportion (RR 1.22; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.06–1.40, moderate confidence), whereas the DistalAV approach reduced it (RR 0.72; 95% CI 0.59–0.87, high confidence). Artery puncture had little to no difference across all approaches (low to high confidence).

Considering first-attempt success and mechanical complications, the SupraSCV may emerge as the preferred approach, while DistalAV might be the least preferable approach. Nevertheless, head-to-head studies comparing the approaches with the greatest first attempt success should be undertaken.