Background: Although central venous catheter (CVC) is a favorable and quick method to access blood flow, however, it is associated with early and late complications. The aim of the present study was to determine complications of CVC placement in burned patients within one month of the procedure.

Materials and Methods: This prospective study was performed on all patients with more than 30 per cent burn admitted to Imam Mousa Kazem Hospital of Isfahan during 2007-8. CVCs were applied for all of the patients and data related to the complications during placement, 24 hours and one month later were recorded.

Results: Sixty-one out of 96 burned patients were male and 35 female. The majority of the victims were in age range of 20-50 years. Twenty-six patients (27%) had complications during catheter placement, 3 (3.2%) after the first 24 hours and 31 (32.3%) after one month. The most common complication during catheter insertion was its application failure (15.6%), after 24 hours it was hematoma at the site of insertion (3.2%) and after one month, catheter infection (12.4%).

Conclusion: CVC application can help to reduce repeated peripheral venous catheters insertion and related subsequent complications, so it may be an effective and reliable method of long-term venous access.