Direct arterial pressure monitoring from the dorsalis pedis artery

The arteria dorsalis pedis, when clearly palpable, is a suitable artery for direct arterial blood pressure monitoring. The systolic pressure and the pulse pressure are likely higher in the dorsalis pedis artery when compared to the radial artery but there is no clinically significant difference in mean pressures. In plethysmographic studies it was found that in 16 per cent of the patients examined the pulse in the second toe disappeared after occlusion of the dorsalis pedis artery indicating that it carried the main blood supply to the toes. Although no complications have resulted from cannulation of the dorsalis pedis artery in our practise, some caution is in order and preliminary testing may be advisable even if the posterior tibial artery is distinctly palpable.