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Piloting a nurse-led ultrasound cannulation scheme
1Department of Vascular Access, Royal Berkshire NHS Foundation Trust, Reading.
British Journal of Nursing (Mark Allen Publishing)
|July 28, 2009
Summary
Nurse-led ultrasound-guided peripheral cannulation significantly improves vascular access success. This technique reduces multiple attempts, minimizing patient discomfort and vein damage for difficult cases.
Area of Science:
- Medical Devices
- Nursing
- Vascular Access
Background:
- Peripheral venous access is crucial for intravenous therapy but challenging in some patients.
- Repeated 'blind' cannulation attempts can cause patient distress and vein damage.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a nurse-led ultrasound-guided peripheral cannulation service.
- To describe a one-operator technique for ultrasound-guided cannulation.
Main Methods:
- A pilot scheme was established for nurse-led ultrasound cannulation.
- Data collected on patient referrals, cannulation attempts, and success rates.
Main Results:
- A 97% success rate was achieved in 33 cannulae insertions across 28 patients.
- Ultrasound guidance reduced average attempts from 6.4 to 1.3.
- Successful cannulations occurred primarily in the anterior forearm (69%) and basilic veins (12%).
Conclusions:
- 2D ultrasound-guided peripheral cannulation is a reliable method for vascular access.
- The technique is effective for patients with difficult venous access or multiple prior cannulation failures.
