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Updated: Aug 26, 2026
Creating Radio-cephalic Arteriovenous Fistula in the Forearm with a Modified No-Touch Technique
Published on: April 1, 2022
Unintentional arterial puncture during cephalic vein cannulation: case report and anatomical study
1Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria. plirk@mcw.edu
Background:
The cephalic antebrachial vein is often used for venous access. However, superficial radial arteries of the forearm are known and unintentional arterial puncture can result from attempts to cannulate the lateral veins of the arm.
Methods:
Accidental puncture of a superficial radial artery during peripheral venous cannulation prompted us to study the anatomy of 26 specimens and to assess the relationship between the radial artery and the cephalic vein in the forearm.
Results:
In two cases, we found accessory branches of the radial artery close to the cephalic forearm vein. Venous cannulation at the lateral wrist carries a small risk of arterial puncture if arterial anomalies are present.
Conclusions:
If venous cannulation is attempted at the radial side of the wrist, palpation for pulsation should reduce the danger of arterial puncture.
