ARTERY CANNULATION

Course overview

ARTERIAL CANNULATION IS A PROCEDURE FREQUENTLY PERFORMED IN ACUTE AND CRITICAL CARE SETTINGS. IT SERVES AS AN INVASIVE MEANS TO MORE ACCURATELY MEASURE BLOOD PRESSURE AND MEAN ARTERIAL PRESSURE THAN NON-INVASIVE MEANS. ARTERY CANNULATION GIVES PRECISE MEASUREMENTS THAT ALLOW FOR IMMEDIATE RECOGNITION OF ALTERATIONS, THUS ALLOWING FOR QUICKER INTERVENTION AND POTENTIAL STABILIZATION OF A PATIENT. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE TECHNIQUE AND INDICATIONS FOR ARTERIAL CANNULATION AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN ENSURING SAFE ARTERIAL ACCESS.