Radial Artery Catheter Complications Based on Site, Dressing and Application Technique: A Descriptive Observational...

Radial artery catheters are commonly used in intensive care units to monitor the vital signs of patients.

This study was carried out to evaluate the complications of radial artery catheters that are used in intensive care in terms of catheter sites, catheter dressings and catheterization techniques.

This is an observational and descriptive study. The study's data were collected between December 2022 and March 2023 in Turkiye. Data were collected using a sociodemographic information form, and the catheters were observed for 7 days.

The data of the study were collected from 144 patients who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. The mean age of the patients was 63.12, while 64 (44.4%) of them were women. The mean cannulation duration of the radial artery catheters of the patients was 9.78 ± 3.97 days. It was determined that complications developed in 109 (75.7%) of the patients. No significant relationship was found between catheter survival and the selection of right versus left radial artery catheterization sites, the use of the Seldinger technique (early: p = 0.308, intermediate: p = 0.416, long-term: p = 0.625), or the 20 G cannula application technique (early: p = 0.363, intermediate: p = 0.320, long-term: p = 0.293). The Hypafix dressing and the transparent gel sheet dressing regarding the early (p = 0.829), intermediate (p = 0.677) and long-term (p = 0.997) survival of the catheters.

Based on the results of this observational study, no significant association was found between the radial artery catheterization site, catheter application technique or the type of catheter dressing used and the development of catheter-related complications.

It may be preferable to use a dressing method that is both easy for nurses to apply and economically feasible for radial artery catheterization in intensive care units.