MODIFIED DOPPLER FLOW DETECTOR PROBE - AID TO PERCUTANEOUS RADIAL ARTERIAL CANNULATION IN INFANTS AND SMALL CHILDREN

Cannulation of the radial artery has become routine for monitoring blood pressure and obtaining blood samples during major surgical procedures and intensive care. The artery to be cannulated is located by palpation or, when this is difficult, is exposed by a cutdown and the catheter introduced under direct vision. The chances of successful percutaneous cannulation decrease with decreasing age and/or size of the patient. This paper describes a technique that has increased the success rate of percutaneous cannulation of the radial artery in infants and small children, and thus reduced the need for arterial cutdowns.