Clinical Review: Complications and Risk Factors of Peripheral Arterial Catheters Used for Haemodynamic Monitoring in Anaesthesia and Intensive Care Medicine

Overview

Journal Crit Care

Specialty Critical Care

Date 2002 Jul 23

PMID 12133178

Citations 180

Authors

Bernd Scheer

Azriel Perel

Ulrich J Pfeiffer

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

In order to evaluate the complications and risk factors associated with peripheral arterial catheters used for haemodynamic monitoring, we reviewed the literature published from 1978 to 2001. We closely examined the three most commonly used arterial cannulation sites. The reviewed papers included a total of 19,617 radial, 3899 femoral and 1989 axillary artery catheterizations. Factors that contribute to higher complication rates were investigated. Major complications occurred in fewer than 1% of the cases, and rates were similar for the radial, femoral and axillary arteries. We conclude that arterial cannulation is a safe procedure.

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