Saturday September 16, 2006
A-line Tip !!

Suturing of arterial line particularly at femoral site may be tricky as catheter may get twist, turn and kink as they are relatively smaller catheter, both in length and diameter, than central venous catheter. Not only you may loose hardly obtained arterial placement but may cause significant bleeding.

Answer is simple. After you pass catheter over wire - suture first than remove the wire (if you are positive about right placement) or reinsert the wire once good pulsation of bright red blood confirmed. Some A-line kits (like arrow) have extra short wire (with J-shaped curve at back) to pass till you obtain secure placement. You must suture femoral A-lines as simple dressing will not secure it. Radial A-lines may be dressed tightly without sutures but it is preferable to secure it with sutures.


Related previous pearls: click to get

Potassium level via A-line

A-line is here but where is Allen test !!

Ultrasound guided insertion of radial artery catheters