Arterial cannulation: factors in the development of occlusion.

Wrist arteries of 100 patients were percutaneously cannulated with 20-gauge cannulas; pulse-wave recordings and changes in arterial-pressure wave configuration were then used to determine whether a cannulated artery was patent of occluded. At the time of decannulation, 23 of the 100 arteries were thrombosed. Of the three cannula types used in the study, the tapered Medicut was most frequently related to occlusion. Age of patient, trauma to the artery, and duration of the cannulation were not related to later thrombosis. Reversing the direction of the cannula did not change the incidence of thrombosis. Women developed thrombosis twice as frequently as men. A short (+/- 3 cm), small diameter (20 gauge) non-tapered cannula was found most efficient.