Axillary arterial catheter use associated with hand ischemia in a multi-trauma patient: case report and literature review

Ultrasound-guided Axillary Artery Catheter Placement and Associated Complications in Critically Ill Patients

BACKGROUND

Arterial catheter placement for hemodynamic monitoring is commonly performed in critically ill patients. The radial and femoral arteries are the two sites most frequently used; there is limited data on the use of the axillary artery for this purpose. The aim of this study was to investigate the rate of complications from ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placement in critically ill patients.

METHODS

A retrospective study at a tertiary care center of patients admitted to an intensive care unit who had ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placement during admission. Primary outcome of interest was catheter related complications, including bleeding, vascular complications, compartment syndrome, stroke or air embolism, catheter malfunction, and need for surgical intervention.

RESULTS

This study identified 88 patients who had an ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placed during their admission. Of these 88, nine patients required multiple catheters placed, for a total of 99 axillary artery catheter placement events. The median age was 64 [IQR 48, 71], 41 (47%) were female, and median body mass index (BMI) was 26 [IQR 22, 30]. The most common complication was minor bleeding (11%), followed by catheter malfunction (2%), and vascular complications (2%). Univariate analyses did not show any association between demographics and clinical variables, and complications related to axillary arterial catheter.

CONCLUSION

The most common complication found with ultrasound-guided axillary artery catheter placement was minor bleeding, followed by catheter malfunction, and vascular complications. Ultrasound-guided axillary arterial catheters are an alternative in patients in whom radial or femoral arterial access is difficult or not possible to achieve.

Ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization

Ultrasonography facilitates arterial catheterization compared to traditional palpation techniques, especially in small arteries. For successful catheterization without complications, practitioners should be familiar with the anatomic characteristics of the artery and ultrasound-guided techniques. There are two approaches for ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization: the short-axis view out-of-plane approach and the long-axis view in-plane approach. There are several modified techniques and tips to facilitate ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization. This review deals with the anatomy relevant to arterial catheterization, several methods to improve success rates, and decrease complications associated with arterial catheterization.

An Analysis of Complications of Brachial and Axillary Artery Punctures

To examine the complications of brachial and axillary artery punctures and the precautionary measures taken to lower their incidences. Retrospective analysis of 266 cases of brachial and axillary artery punctures was performed for angiography or angioplasty between January 2009 and December 2013 at the Department of Vascular Surgery, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University. Complications and their causes were assessed. Among all brachial artery punctures (n = 140), there were complications in 3.6 per cent of cases, including local hematoma in 1.4 per cent, pseudoaneurysm in 0.7 per cent, acute arterial thrombosis in 0.7 per cent, and median nerve injury in 0.7 per cent. Among all axillary artery punctures (n = 126), there were complications in 10.3 per cent of cases, including local hematoma in 4.8 per cent, pseudoaneurysm in 0.8 per cent, acute arterial thrombosis in 0.8 per cent, acute venous thrombosis in 0.8 per cent, and nerve injury in 3.2 per cent. The incidence of complications was significantly lower in brachial axillary artery puncture compared with axillary artery puncture (P < 0.05). The main factors associated with complications might be patient's vascular condition, perioperative medication, anatomical features of the artery, puncture site, successful rate of first-attempt puncture, and bandage strength. Incidence of complications of brachial and axillary artery punctures could be lowered by strengthening the choice of indications, improving the perioperative managements, being fully aware of the anatomical characteristics of the brachial and axillary arteries, and applying the standardized techniques of puncture and compression hemostasis.

Surgical and Patient Risk Factors for Severe Arterial Line Complications in Adults

Background

Prior research has provided inconsistent data regarding the risk factors associated with complications from arterial cannulation. The goal of this study was to clearly define the incidence and risks factors associated with arterial cannulation complications.

Methods

After obtaining institutional review board approval, all patients requiring arterial line placement with documentation were included in this retrospective study between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2012. Leveraging two robust data warehouses, the Perioperative DataMart and the Mayo Clinic Life Silences System, the authors cross-matched arterial line cannulation with a documented vascular consult, neurologic consult, infection, or return to surgery within 30 days in order to identify the initial patient population.

Results

A total of 62,626 arterial lines were placed in 57,787 patients, and 90.1% of the catheters placed were 20-gauge catheters. The radial artery was cannulated in 94.5% of patients. A total of 21 patients were identified as having experienced vascular complications or nerve injuries, resulting in a complication rate of 3.4 per 10,000 (95% CI, 2.1 to 5.1). Cardiac surgery had the largest number of catheters placed (n = 15,419) with 12 complications (complication rate = 7.8 per 10,000; 95% CI, 4.0 to 13.6). The rate of complications differed significantly (P &lt; 0.001) across the three most common catheter sizes (2.7 per 10,000 [95% CI, 1.5 to 4.4] for 20 gauge, 17.2 per 10,000 [95% CI, 4.7 to 43.9] for 18 gauge, and 9.4 per 10,000 [95% CI, 1.1 to 34.1] for 5 French).

Conclusion

In a large retrospective study, the authors document a very low rate of complications with arterial line placement.

[Actually a routine matter: ischemia after catheterization of the radial artery]

A 76-year-old patient developed necrosis of the index finger after placement of a radial artery catheter. This article discusses the risks associated with invasive blood pressure monitoring and treatment options in cases of critical ischemia. The authors conclude that there is no consensus concerning optimal treatment and that a discussion on options for preoperative risk assessment and quickest possible recognition of such complications is worthwhile. Despite the risk of ischemia invasive blood pressure monitoring is an indispensable procedure.