Peripheral artery cannulation in newborns.

This report outlines our experience (retrospectively over a 3-year period) with peripheral artery cannulation for blood gas monitoring in 170 newborn infants. The technique for radial artery cannulation is described in detail. Recorded sites of cannulation were radial (138), posterior tibial (34), dorsalis pedis (2) and temporal (1). Only minor complications occurred which were transient ischaemia (19 cases), accidental blood loss (4 cases) and superficial abscesses (2 cases). Three other cases were suspected to have systemic infection but these were not proven. Cannulae had to be removed in 52% of cases because no blood could be withdrawn for sampling. It is concluded that peripheral artery cannulation in the newborn is a safer and more convenient procedure than umbilical artery catheterisation.