Arterial line
Encyclopedia
An arterial line, or art-line, or a-line, is a thin catheter
inserted into an artery
. It is most commonly used in intensive care medicine
and anesthesia
to monitor the blood pressure
real-time (rather than by intermittent measurement), and to obtain samples for arterial blood gas
measurements. It is not generally used to administer medication. Since many injectable drugs used in intensive care and anesthesia
, such as sodium pentothal, may lead to serious tissue damage and even amputation if given in an artery
the arterial line must be clearly marked to avoid accidental intraarterial injection of intravenous drugs.
An arterial line is usually inserted in the wrist (radial artery
); but can also be inserted into the elbow (brachial artery
), groin (femoral artery
), foot (dorsalis pedis artery
).
Insertion is often painful; however an anesthetic such as Lidocaine can be used to make the insertion more tolerable, but this can make insertion more difficult.
Catheter
In medicine, a catheter is a tube that can be inserted into a body cavity, duct, or vessel. Catheters thereby allow drainage, administration of fluids or gases, or access by surgical instruments. The process of inserting a catheter is catheterization...
inserted into an artery
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
. It is most commonly used in intensive care medicine
Intensive care medicine
Intensive-care medicine or critical-care medicine is a branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis and management of life threatening conditions requiring sophisticated organ support and invasive monitoring.- Overview :...
and anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
to monitor the blood pressure
Blood pressure
Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. When used without further specification, "blood pressure" usually refers to the arterial pressure of the systemic circulation. During each heartbeat, BP varies...
real-time (rather than by intermittent measurement), and to obtain samples for arterial blood gas
Arterial blood gas
An arterial blood gas is a blood test that is performed using blood from an artery. It involves puncturing an artery with a thin needle and syringe and drawing a small volume of blood. The most common puncture site is the radial artery at the wrist, but sometimes the femoral artery in the groin or...
measurements. It is not generally used to administer medication. Since many injectable drugs used in intensive care and anesthesia
Anesthesia
Anesthesia, or anaesthesia , traditionally meant the condition of having sensation blocked or temporarily taken away...
, such as sodium pentothal, may lead to serious tissue damage and even amputation if given in an artery
Artery
Arteries are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart. This blood is normally oxygenated, exceptions made for the pulmonary and umbilical arteries....
the arterial line must be clearly marked to avoid accidental intraarterial injection of intravenous drugs.
An arterial line is usually inserted in the wrist (radial artery
Radial artery
In human anatomy, the radial artery is the main blood vessel, with oxygenated blood, of the lateral aspect of the forearm.-Course:The radial artery arises from the bifurcation of the brachial artery in the cubital fossa. It runs distally on the anterior part of the forearm...
); but can also be inserted into the elbow (brachial artery
Brachial artery
The brachial artery is the major blood vessel of the arm.It is the continuation of the axillary artery beyond the lower margin of teres major muscle. It continues down the ventral surface of the arm until it reaches the cubital fossa at the elbow. It then divides into the radial and ulnar arteries...
), groin (femoral artery
Femoral artery
The femoral artery is a general term comprising a few large arteries in the thigh. They begin at the inguinal ligament and end just above the knee at adductor canal or Hunter's canal traversing the extent of the femur bone....
), foot (dorsalis pedis artery
Dorsalis pedis artery
In human anatomy, the dorsalis pedis artery , is a blood vessel of the lower limb that carries oxygenated blood from the dorsal surface of the foot. It arises at the anterior aspect of the ankle joint and is a continuation of the anterior tibial artery...
).
Insertion is often painful; however an anesthetic such as Lidocaine can be used to make the insertion more tolerable, but this can make insertion more difficult.