A prospective survey of axillary artery cannulation in paediatric intensive care

Abstract

SummaryA prospective survey of 65 axillary artery cannulations in paediatric intensive care admissions at The Hospital for Sick Children, Great Ormond Street, London, was carried out over a period of six months, to assess the incidence of serious vascular or other complications. These arterial lines were used for direct blood pressure measurement and blood gas sampling on intensive care and in the operating theatre. Records were kept of the ease of arterial cannulation and all previous attempts in that arm, axillary or distally, all vaso‐active drugs administered and the general condition of the child. The number of days the cannula remained in situ and the reason for its removal were also recorded. In this study we had no significant vascular or neurological complications and there were no pneumothoraces. In only two cases was the line removed due to local tissue infection. We conclude that the axillary artery provides a valuable alternative site for cannulation in sick and small babies and in long standing intensive care admissions with multiple previous arterial cannulations.