Percutaneous catheterization of the radial artery in the critically ill neonate.

Percutaneous catheterization of the radial artery appears to be a simple and safe alternative to catheterization of the umbilical artery for monitoring critically ill neonates. This avoids the serious and potentially fatal complications associated with use of the umbilical arterial catheter, and it is also applicable to monitoring of neonates in whom the umbilical artery is no longer patent. We observed no serious sequelae in cannulation of the radial artery and think that the technique should be used more widely.