Arterial Line - Invasive Blood Pressure Monitoring
INDICATIONS OF AN ARTERIAL LINE:
- An arterial line is usually inserted in the wrist (radial artery).
- It can also be inserted into the elbow (brachial artery), groin (femoral artery), foot (dorsalis pedis artery) or the inside of the wrist (ulnar artery).
- Any artery that that isn't an end-artery can theoretically be used but in practicality it's the arteries mentioned earlier that are used.
- A golden rule is that there has to be collateral circulation to the area affected by the chosen artery so that peripheral circulation is maintained by another artery even if circulation is disturbed in the cannulated artery.
- The arterial line should give an accurate representation of MAP (mean arterial pressure).
- arterial line connected by
- saline filled non-compressible tubing to a pressure transducer. This converts the pressure waveform into an electrical signal which is displayed on the bedside monitor
- pressurized saline for flushing
INDICATIONS OF AN ARTERIAL LINE:
- Continuous blood pressure measurement is necessary because of hemodynamic instability.
- Continuous blood pressure measurement is necessary for monitoring administration of vasoactive drugs.
- Frequent blood gas measurements are needed.
- Frequent blood sampling is needed in patients without central venous access.
- Noninvasive blood pressure monitoring is difficult or impossible, such as in patients who are severely obese, have burned extremities, or are in shock.