We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
We use cookies to distinguish you from other users and to provide you with a better experience on our websites. Close this message to accept cookies or find out how to manage your cookie settings.
from Section 1 - Nuts and Bolts
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 09 June 2025
Vascular access is a fundamental skill in anaesthesia and intensive care, not only for drug administration but also for delivery of fluids and blood products, and for sampling for blood tests. Peripheral venous access is used for all patients undergoing surgery, but for major surgery and/or very unwell patients, central venous access and arterial access may also be required.
Flow rates through cannulae are key in determining the size of cannula chosen, and are proportional to the fourth power of their internal radius. All vascular access must be inserted aseptically, and removed if signs of infection develop. Serious complications, particularly after central venous access are well described including pneumothorax, haemothorax and cardiac tamponade. The use of ultrasound for facilitating access is mandated for central access, but is also increasing for both more difficult arterial and peripheral venous access.
To save this book to your Kindle, first ensure no-reply@cambridge.org is added to your Approved Personal Document E-mail List under your Personal Document Settings on the Manage Your Content and Devices page of your Amazon account. Then enter the ‘name’ part of your Kindle email address below. Find out more about saving to your Kindle.
Note you can select to save to either the @free.kindle.com or @kindle.com variations. ‘@free.kindle.com’ emails are free but can only be saved to your device when it is connected to wi-fi. ‘@kindle.com’ emails can be delivered even when you are not connected to wi-fi, but note that service fees apply.
Find out more about the Kindle Personal Document Service.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Dropbox.
To save content items to your account, please confirm that you agree to abide by our usage policies. If this is the first time you use this feature, you will be asked to authorise Cambridge Core to connect with your account. Find out more about saving content to Google Drive.
