Ultrasound-guided femoral vascular access in pediatric cardiac catheterization

In pediatric catheterization, the palpation and landmark (PL) technique is widely used for femoral arterial and venous (FAV) cannulation. Over the past decade, the ultrasound-guided (US) technique has replaced the PL technique. This study aimed to assess the clinical impact of application of the US technique on the success rate and completion time of FAV cannulation during cardiac catheterization in children.

This is a retrospective observational study of consecutive pediatric patients who underwent cardiac catheterization in a tertiary care children's hospital from April 2016 to March 2022. The association between FAV cannulation success rate and the US technique was analyzed using multiple logistic regression analysis by adjusting for potential confounders, including patient and operator characteristics and procedural details.

A total of 749 patients (PL, 378; US, 371) were analyzed. The odds ratio (OR) of the US technique success rate for FAV cannulation was 2.03, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10-3.73; p = 0.02. The OR of the cannulation success rate of children aged <1 year was 0.16 (95% CI, 0.03-0.97; p = 0.046).

The US-guided technique was associated with an increased success rate of FAV cannulation, compared with the PL technique. Moreover, age < 1 year was an independent factor associated with a lower success rate of FAV cannulation. The US-guided technique might be an effective procedure in FAV cannulation during cardiac catheterization in children.