Ultrasound-guided small vessel cannulation: Long-axis approach is equivalent to short-axis in novice sonographers experienced with landmark-based cannulation

Catherine S. Erickson, Michael M. Liao, Jason S. Haukoos, Erica Douglass, Margaret DiGeronimo, Eric Christensen, Emily Hopkins, Brooke Bender, John L. Kendall

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

19 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: Our primary objective was to describe the time to vessel penetration and difficulty of long-axis and short-axis approaches for ultrasound-guided small vessel penetration in novice sonographers experienced with landmark-based small vessel penetration.

Methods: This was a prospective, observational study of experienced certified emergency nurses attempting ultrasound-guided small vessel cannulation on a vascular access phantom. We conducted a standardized training, practice, and experiment session for each participant. Five long-axis and five short-axis approaches were attempted in alternating sequence. The primary outcome was time to vessel penetration. Secondary outcomes were number of skin penetrations and number of catheter redirections. We compared long-axis and short-axis approaches using multivariable regression adjusting for repeated measures, vessel depth, and vessel caliber.

Results: Each of 10 novice sonographers made 10 attempts for a total of 100 attempts. Median time to vessel penetration in the long-axis and short-axis was 11 (95% confidence interval [CI] 7-12) and 10 (95% CI 6-13) seconds, respectively. Skin penetrations and catheter redirections were equivalent and near optimal between approaches. The median caliber of cannulated vessels in the long-axis and short-axis was 4.6 (95% CI 4.1-5.5) and 5.6 (95% CI 5.1-6.2) millimeters, respectively. Both axes had equal success rates of 100% for all 50 attempts. In multivariable regression analysis, long-axis attempts were 32% (95% CI 11%-48%; p=0.009) faster than shortaxis attempts.

Conclusion: Novice sonographers, highly proficient with peripheral IV cannulation, can perform after instruction ultrasound-guided small vessel penetration successfully with similar time to vessel penetration in either the long-axis or short-axis approach on phantom models.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)824-830
Number of pages7
JournalWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine
Volume15
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2014

Keywords

  • Long axis
  • Peripheral intravenous cannulation
  • Short axis
  • Ultrasound guidance

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Emergency Medicine

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