Arterial catheter complications and management problems: observations from AACN's Thunder Project

Arterial cannulation, while common in critical care, is a procedure with attendant risks of complications. Anecdotal data from the American Association of Critical Care Nurses' Thunder Project provided evidence that catheters, insertion sites, and monitoring systems continue to be sources of complications. The problems have not changed since arterial cannulation began. Line management issues cannot be resolved until low-maintenance systems are developed.