In my experiences (I've personally placed about 160 CVCs and supervised placement of many more) I've seen - and done myself on a couple of occasions - subclavian artery puncture WITHOUT placement of catheter. Never seen a complication from this.
My classmate has placed three separate subclavian artery lines by accident, and these 3 cases constitute the only ones I've ever seen. Each time removal of the catheter, upright positioning, pressure as well as you are able, all worked fine. No one talked to vascular surg.
For IJs, I always use a 'seeker needle' which is a 22 gauge needle, to find the vein prior to accessing with my cook needle. I've never stuck the artery, even with my seeker. The several times I've seen the carotid artery punctured were always (forgive me here - nothing meant by this) by anesthesia personnel. I attribute this to differences in approach. We use the insertion sites of the SCM muscle, go in between, 45 degree angle to skin, aim toward ipsilateral nipple. They are taught to palpate the carotid impulse (which using my approach I never even feel), and puncture lateral to the pulse, regardless of external landmarks. I also use a posterior approach with good results: 1 cm above clavicle, puncture behind SCM body with needle aiming to sternal notch.
Carotid puncture can be a big deal for several reasons: older folks might have embolus of plaque with resultant stroke, you might get a dissection with stroke, or the resulting hematoma might cause airway problems. That's why a SEEKER needle is so important in the IJ approach, in my own view. Complications from a 22 gauge are far less likely than from the huge cook needle.
A corollary: as much as we surgeons love subclavian sticks over internal jugular, THINK about your options and act responsibly. In someone with renal insufficiency, a subclavian line which causes stenosis might prevent placement of permanent dialysis access on that entire upper extremity. Very bad news. Try to use IJ whenever you can, and subclavian only when you have to. Last time I was on vascular service we did two femoral dialysis loop fistulas and one IJ to axillary artery: crummy last ditch efforts in folks who had been in the ICU in the past with multiple line placements, with stenosed bilateral subclavian veins. When those fistulas fail (and they will) these folks are going to be without much in the way of options.
regards,
-ws