Th e n e w e ngl a nd j o u r na l o f m e dic i n e
n engl j med 359;21 www.nejm.org november 20, 2008e26
videos in clinical medicine
Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation
Rafael Ortega, M.D., Pavan Sekhar, M.D., Michael Song, M.D.,
Christopher J. Hansen, B.A., and Lauren Peterson
From the Department of Anesthesiology,
Boston Medical Center, Boston. Address
reprint requests to Dr. Ortega at the De-
partment of Anesthesiology, Boston Medi-
cal Center, 88 E. Newton St., Boston, MA
02118, or at rortega@bu.edu.
N Engl J Med 2008;359:e26.
Copyright © 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society.
Figure 1. Basilic and Cephalic Veins of
the Upper Extremities.
In troduc tion
Obtaining peripheral intravenous access is an essential skill for all physicians. Al-
though it is considered one of the simplest invasive procedures, mastering this
potentially lifesaving intervention requires refined skills and experience.
Indic ations
Peripheral intravenous catheterization is required in a broad range of clinical applica-
tions, including intravenous drug administration, intravenous hydration, and trans-
fusions of blood or blood components, as well as during surgery, during emergency
care, and in other situations in which direct access to the bloodstream is needed.
Con tr a indic ations
Relative contraindications to insertion of a peripheral catheter at a specific site in
the body may include infection, phlebitis, sclerosed veins, previous intravenous
infiltration, burns or traumatic injury proximal to the insertion site, arteriovenous
fistula in an extremity, and surgical procedures affecting an extremity.
Other situations may preclude obtaining peripheral intravenous access. For in-
stance, extreme dehydration or shock may render cannulation of collapsed periph-
eral veins impossible. When access to peripheral veins is impossible and in situa-
tions in which accessing peripheral veins may take too long, insertion of a central
venous or intraosseous catheter or peripheral venous cutdown may be required.
A nat om y
A detailed understanding of the venous systems of the upper and lower extremities
will facilitate successful cannulation. The upper extremities have two primary ve-
nous systems: the cephalic and the basilic veins (Fig. 1). The venous system of the
lower extremities consists of the greater and lesser saphenous veins.
Si te Selec tion
The choice of a site for intravenous cannulation depends on many factors, including
the intended use of the catheter, accessibility of the vein given the position of the
patient, the patient’s age and comfort, and the urgency of the situation. In general,
upper-extremity veins are preferred, since they are more durable and are associated
with fewer complications than are lower-extremity veins.
The preferred cannulation sites are the veins of the forearm. The median cubital
vein, which crosses the antecubital fossa, is frequently cannulated in urgent situ-
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peripher al intr avenous cannulation
n engl j med 359;21 www.nejm.org november 20, 2008
ations, because it accommodates large-bore catheters and may be easier to cannulate
than other veins in the forearm. However, caution is warranted to avoid inadvertent
cannulation of the brachial artery, which usually lies just medial to the median
cubital vein. The same applies for the radial and ulnar arteries at the level of the
wrist — careful palpation to identify arterial pulsations should minimize the pos-
sibility of this complication.
When upper-extremity veins are inaccessible, the dorsal veins of the foot or the
saphenous veins of the lower extremity may be used. Cannulation in these veins
is associated with a higher incidence of thrombosis and embolism. However, this
risk is lower in children and infants than in adults; therefore, the veins of the legs
and feet are an acceptable alternative when cannulation of the upper extremities
has failed in a child or infant. Other alternative intravenous cannulation sites include
the scalp veins, used in neonates and young infants, and the external jugular vein.
Equipmen t
Gather the equipment and have it ready at the bedside before beginning the proce-
dure. You will need gloves, eye protection, a nonlatex tourniquet, chlorhexidine-
based antiseptic solution, sterile 2-by-2 gauze, a saline flush, a transparent occlu-
sive dressing and tape, a catheter of an appropriate size, ranging from 14- to
24-gauge, an intravenous fluid bag with tubing, and a sharps container. A local or
topical anesthetic may be required if the catheter is 20-gauge or greater.
C athe ter T y pe a nd Size
There are many catheters, varying in style, length, and safety mechanisms (Fig. 2).
Different safety mechanisms have been developed to minimize the possibility
of inadvertent needle sticks. Needles should always be discarded appropriately in
a sharps container.
The size of the catheter used will depend on the clinical situation. The smallest
effective catheter should be used, because small catheters allow for less resistance
to blood flow around the cannula and are associated with fewer complications.
Large catheters, such as 14- and 16-gauge catheters, are used in acute situations
for fluid resuscitation. Other variables that may influence the size of the catheter
used include age-related vessel size, the need for pressurized boluses for administra-
tion of contrast material or medication, and the viscosity of the fluid to be infused.
Pr epa r ation
Explain the procedure to the patient and address any specific questions or con-
cerns. Discuss potential complications such as bleeding, bruising, and infection.
You must follow standard precautions when placing a peripheral venous catheter.
Posi tioning
When the selected site is in an upper extremity, the patient should be placed in the
supine position, with the arm supported. A comfortable position for the practitioner
and proper lighting are important for successful intravenous cannulation.
Pro cedur e
Tie the tourniquet with a half-knot 8 to 10 cm above the targeted insertion site.
Place the tourniquet flat against the skin and bring the tourniquet ends together,
Figure 2. Different Types of Catheters.
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The new england journal of medicine
overlapping one another. Stretch the ends of the tourniquet, and with one finger,
tuck the top tail beneath the bottom, directing the end away from the puncture site.
When evaluating a vein for cannulation, inspect and palpate the available veins.
Gently tilt the extremity or adjust the angle of the light to reveal better the con-
tours of the vessel. To palpate a vein, place one or two fingertips over the selected
vein and gently apply pressure. Release the pressure to watch and feel the rebound
of the vein on refilling.
Once you have selected the vein, clean the site with a chlorhexidine-based anti-
septic solution, using a back-and-forth motion. Allow the area to dry completely.
Do not repalpate the area.
If a larger-gauge catheter is used, the site may be anesthetized with a local
injection, topical cream, or ethylene glycol cryoanesthesia.
To prepare the catheter, inspect the metal needle and plastic cannula for any
damage or contaminants. Spin the hub of the plastic cannula to verify that it moves
easily off the metal needle. Do not move the tip of the cannula over the bevel of
the metal needle, since this could damage the end of the cannula.
Superficial veins are displaced easily and need to be stabilized. Use your non-
dominant hand to apply traction to the skin distal to the venipuncture site. If the
catheter is placed in the dorsum of the hand, grasp the patient’s hand with your
nondominant hand, fingers beneath the palm. Pull downward to flex the wrist
and use your thumb to keep the skin taut (Fig. 3). If a forearm vein is selected, use
your nondominant hand to encircle the patient’s arm, place your thumb on the
skin distal to the venipuncture site, and pull down. Always maintain a firm grip
on the patient’s hand throughout the procedure.
With your dominant hand, insert the catheter with the metal needle bevel up,
at a 5- to 30-degree angle through the skin and into the vein (Fig. 4). The angle
used to approach the vein is dependent on the depth of the vein. A lesser angle is
required for superficial veins.
Do not insert the catheter too deeply, because of the risk of penetrating the far
wall of the vein. When the catheter enters the vein lumen, watch for the initial
“flashback” of blood, which will slowly fill the catheter chamber.
Once the metal needle and plastic cannula are in the lumen, lower the catheter
so that it is almost parallel to the skin. Hold the end of the catheter with the
thumb and index finger of your dominant hand. Maintain tension on the vein and
the skin, stabilize the needle, and carefully advance the catheter into the vein.
When the catheter has entered the vein lumen completely, remove the tourni-
quet. To prevent blood loss from the open plastic cannula hub when the metal
needle is removed, place direct pressure over the vein proximal to the end of the
catheter and place a gauze pad beneath the cannula hub. Remove the metal needle
from the plastic cannula and place it in the sharps container.
Never attempt to reinsert the metal needle into the plastic cannula. Doing so
may shear off the plastic cannula, releasing it into the bloodstream, resulting in a
possible embolus.
Make sure the tourniquet has been released, and confirm that the cannula is
patent by flushing it with normal saline. The volume used depends on the size of
the vein and the gauge of the catheter. Check that there is no swelling, redness,
leakage, or discomfort around the insertion site.
Attach the intravenous fluid tubing to the cannula and start the fluid infusion.
Ideally, you should secure the cannula with a transparent occlusive dressing
placed over the cannula hub. Confirm that the hub of the cannula is clearly visible
through the dressing to facilitate monitoring.
After securing the cannula with tape, loop the intravenous tubing and secure it
Figure 3. Keeping the Skin Taut before
Insertion.
Figure 4. Inserting the Catheter.
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n engl j med 359;21 www.nejm.org november 20, 2008
peripher al intr avenous cannulation
away from the insertion site. Looping the tubing may prevent accidental displace-
ment of the cannula, decrease the need for cannula manipulation, and lower the
risk of venous contamination or irritation. It is recommended to write the date of
insertion on the dressing to facilitate determining how long the cannula has been
in place. To reduce the risk of infection, continue to review the indications for pe-
ripheral intravenous catheterization, and remove the cannula as soon as possible.
Troublesho o ting
When a vein is difficult to see or to identify on palpation, several methods can be
used to increase its dilatation. These include lowering the arm below heart level,
gently tapping on the vein, instructing the patient to open and close his or her fist
repeatedly, and applying a warm compress to the selected site to increase vasodila-
tation.1 Transillumination or ultrasonography may also be used to help locate a vein.2
Blood might flash back into the chamber if the tip of the needle has entered
the vessel lumen but the cannula itself has not yet entered the lumen. This problem
can be avoided by reducing the angle of the catheter and advancing the needle a
few more millimeters into the vein.
A valve within the vein may prevent advancement of an inserted catheter. If this
occurs, hold the cannula hub in place, remove the tourniquet, and connect the
intravenous tubing to the cannula. Running fluid into the vein may open the valve
and allow the cannula to be completely inserted.
Occasionally, it is possible to advance the catheter when it is outside the vein
or when the catheter has perforated the vein’s opposite wall. Either situation can
cause pain and swelling at the insertion site because the intravenous fluids are ad-
ministered into subcutaneous tissue (Fig. 5). When this occurs, the cannula should
be withdrawn completely, and another cannula placed at an alternative site.
When a cannulation attempt is unsuccessful, the subsequent attempts should
be performed in a vein proximal to the initial puncture site.
Complic ations
The most common complications arising from intravenous cannulation are pain,
bruising, bacterial infection, extravasation, phlebitis, thrombosis, embolism, and
nerve damage.3 Proper sterile technique and selection of the appropriate catheter
size may avert these complications.
Ensure proper and adequate fluid administration or flush the site with saline
to prevent the more serious complications of thrombosis and embolism.
Summ a r y
The chances of successful peripheral intravenous cannulation increase with meticu-
lous attention to proper technique, the use of proper equipment, familiarity with
anatomy, and a knowledge of a variety of approaches to accessing peripheral veins.
References
Benumof JL, ed. Clinical procedures 1.
in anesthesia and intensive care. Philadel-
phia: J.B. Lippincott, 1991.
Costantino TG, Parikh AK, Satz WA, 2.
Fojtik JP. Ultrasonography-guided periph-
eral intravenous access versus traditional
approaches in patients with difficult in-
travenous access. Ann Emerg Med 2005;
46:456-61.
Tagalakis V, Kahn SR, Libman M, 3.
Blostein M. The epidemiology of periph-
eral vein infusion thrombophlebitis: a criti-
cal review. Am J Med 2002;113:146-51.
Copyright © 2008 Massachusetts Medical Society.
Figure 5. Swelling on Administration
of Fluids into Subcutaneous Tissue.
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