Figure 1 Optimizing the position of the ultrasound probe
The projection of the radial artery on the body surface is represented with a black line. Features of the radial artery in the ultrasound section occurred differently for different positions of the probe, including the diameter of the radial artery (white arrows), Doppler signal of arterial blood flow (A, C). The position corresponding to the maximum radial diameter and the optimum Doppler blood signal is the best location of the probe (B).
Figure 2 The signal lines on the probe for accurately guiding alignment
The two signal lines (centerline and contact line) are set perpendicular to each other. The needle was inserted into the point at which the centerline of the probe contacted the skin. The angle between the puncture needle and the contact line is greater than 90° (A) or less than 90° (C). It would cause a deviation of the tip from the central axis of the artery during the process. The approach is most optimal when the needle is perpendicular to the contact line (the angle is 90°) (B).
Figure 4 Cumulative success rate for the three groups(A) Cumulative success rate of the first cannulation in 100 seconds.(B) Cumulative success rate of the total cannulation in 5 minutes.
Figure 5 Localization map of the modified long-axis in-plane technique
The movement of the probe leads to different ultrasound sections of the artery (A: 1 -5), corresponding to different diameters of the artery in the ultrasound view (A: a, b, c). If the tip is accidentally positioned lateral to the radial artery or inserted into the artery wall (A: 1, 2, 4, 5), there will be no blood backflow in the needle core (A: (1), (2), (4), (5)). When the center axis of the artery is maintained in the ultrasound plane during the process, the probability of the artery lumen with the needle tip inserted will significantly increase (A: 3, (3), b).
The overlapped planes mnba and bacd are merged as the ultrasonic plane (B). The centerline lies in the ultrasonic plane and is perpendicular to the contact line (B). The two lines are defined as signal lines. According to the significant guidance of the two signal lines, the needle tip can be kept easily in the ultrasonic plane in the process.
我们在使用超声长轴平面内技术时,可能会出现一种现象:在超声图像中可以见到高回声的针尖插入血管腔,但是穿刺针的针芯没有回血。可能的解释是,由于超声波切面存在一定的厚度(图5 B),当超声平面偏离动脉中心轴,针尖插入动脉壁(图5 A ②, ④) 或靠近动脉壁外侧(图5 A ①, ⑤), 同时,部分动脉管腔和针尖仍在超声切面中,即可观察到上述穿刺针似乎已经在血管内而没有回血的现象。