Reading 38 B2

Arterial Line Placement

Arterial line placement is a common procedure in various critical care settings. Intra-arterial blood pressure measurement is more accurate than measurement by non-invasive means, especially in the critically ill. Intra-arterial blood pressure management permits the rapid recognition of changes that is vital for patients on continuous infusions of vasoactive drugs. Overall, arterial line placement is considered a safe procedure, with a rate of major complications that is below 1%.

In both adults and children, the most common site of cannulation is the radial artery, primarily because of the superficial nature of the vessel and the ease with which the site can be maintained. Additional advantages of radial artery cannulation include the consistency of the anatomy and the low rate of complications.

Question of
Why is the radial artery usually chosen for cannulation?
- Its low-profile anatomy is ideal for primary cannulation.
- The site can be maintained during other non-invasive manipulations.
- It has a shallow position.
Correct Wrong

Explanation: The passage states that the radial artery is the most common site of cannulation "primarily because of the superficial nature of the vessel," indicating that the shallow position is the main reason for choosing it. While the ease of maintaining the site is also a reason, the primary factor mentioned is the superficial nature.