Abstract
Eighty-one percutaneous subclavian vein catheterizations (PSVC) were randomly selected for retrospective audits. Physicians with varied levels of experience were performing PSVC in many patient care areas. The incidence of pneumothorax was 12.4%. After impersonal contacts by the audit committee failed to reduce that rate, a concurrent audit process with direct physician contact was initiated. This reduced the complication rate significantly. Because earlier published reports had associated PSVC with low complication rates, operator caution may have given way to overzealous use by undertrained physicians. Direct physician involvement in quality-assurance programs can enhance patient care.

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