Micropuncture kits for difficult vascular access

We would like to propose a technique using a 5-Fr micropuncture kit to obtain vascular access in critically ill patients who are at high risk for immediate procedural complications. The ability to obtain rapid vascular access, both arterial and venous, is a critical skill in emergency medicine [1]. Emergent vascular access may be challenging because of the patient's body habitus, anatomical deformities, agitation or altered mental status, intravascular volume loss, and hemodynamic status. These unpredictable factors turn an otherwise routine procedure into a lengthy and complicated one that exposes the patient to multiple needle sticks and increases the rate of serious complications (e.g., pneumothorax, vascular and nerve injuries, hemorrhage, or hematoma formation) [2,3].

Source: The American Journal of Emergency Medicine - July 24, 2020 Category: Emergency Medicine Authors: Tim Montrief, Mark Ramzy, Brit Long Source Type: research