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Arterial access in the pediatric emergency department
R Saladino1, D Bachman, G Fleisher
1Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
Annals of Emergency Medicine
|April 1, 1990
Summary
Arterial catheters can be safely used in the pediatric emergency department (ED) for monitoring blood pressure and blood gases. Complications were minimal, supporting their utility in critically ill children.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Critical Care Medicine
- Emergency Medicine
- Vascular Access
Background:
- Arterial catheters are standard for monitoring in pediatric intensive care units (ICUs).
- The role and safety of arterial catheterization in the pediatric emergency department (ED) remain underexplored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the utilization and outcomes of arterial catheters placed in the pediatric ED.
- To evaluate the safety and efficacy of ED-placed arterial catheters for critically ill children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of medical records for pediatric patients undergoing arterial catheterization in the ED.
- Analysis of indications for catheterization, catheter type, site, and complications.
Main Results:
- Forty-one pediatric patients received arterial catheters in the ED.
- Indications included blood gas analysis (59%) and blood pressure monitoring (41%).
- Radial artery catheterization (73%) with 22-gauge catheters (78%) was most common; complications were infrequent and minor.
Conclusions:
- Arterial catheterization is a feasible and safe procedure in the pediatric ED.
- It provides valuable hemodynamic and blood gas monitoring for critically ill children.
- Low complication rates support expanded use in emergency settings.