Use of 1-ml hollow tube-assisted radial artery catheterization in clinical anesthesiology.

OBJECTIVE To introduce a new modified technique for radial artery catheterization. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prolongated needle was made by using routine Vasocan Braunule needle and 1 ml syringe. A table of random digits was used for randomization of 32 interns. 14 interns were involved in group T and 18 interns were in group M. Each intern accomplished 20 cases. Then 640 patients were divided into 2 groups: group T included 280 patients with traditional direct technique, group M included 360 patients with 1 ml hollow tube-assisted technique. RESULTS Satisfactory results were obtained for 107 patients in group T and 292 patients in group M (P < 0.05). The success rates for catheter insertion after one attempt were 38.2% in group T and 81.1% in group M (P < 0.001). The blood flow times for observation were 1.7 ± 0.2 s in group T and 19.6 ± 1.8 s in group M (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The authors suggested the use of 1 ml hollow tube-assisted radial artery cannulation technique rather than a direct technique. This modified technique provided easy, safe, quick and less cost cannulation.