Arterial Line Complications
May 06, 2024![](https://kajabi-storefronts-production.kajabi-cdn.com/kajabi-storefronts-production/file-uploads/blogs/2147545446/images/ff4d3be-5daa-b1c-7edb-c88ca5b251c1_7-4.png)
Arterial lines are great, but your team must be aware of the possible complications. The common arterial cannulation sites are the radial, brachial and femoral artery. Each site has a different risk profile. Throughout the patient’s episode of care, we must remain vigilant about complications to keep our patients safe. 👀✅
Here’s an outline:
👉🏾 Immediate
🔺Pain (awake patient)
🔺Bleeding (especially with unrecognised disconnection or intraperitoneal perforation of iliac artery)
🔺Haematoma/bruising (failed cannulation)
🔺Nerve damage (needle trauma to nearby nerves)
👉🏾 Early
🔺Air bubble emboli
🔺Inaccurate reading leading to inappropriate treatment
🔺Ischaemia (with poor collateral circulation)
👉🏾 Late
🔺Thrombus*
🔺Infection (local or systemic)
🔺Haematoma/bruising
🔺Compartment syndrome (brachial artery)
🔺Pseudoaneursym
*Around 20% of radial arterial lines will thrombose and remain occluded for around 3 weeks, however, only 1% of these will cause ischaemia requiring intervention.
Build knowledge ✅
Improve safety ✅
Ref:
https://ccforum.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/cc1489
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK556127/