Arterial micropuncture. An advance in blood-gas analysis

Worldwide, uncountable arterial macropunctures and cannulations are performed for blood-gas analysis. The associated complications are accepted as inevitable. 8,000 arterial micropunctures performed under controlled conditions show that this sampling method is not only simpler but also less traumatic and less susceptible to errors of method. As these advantages are not countered by any disadvantages, microsampling is suggested for general use.