title: The nature and incidence of complications of peripheral arterial puncture.
abstract: Follow-up of the sites of 839 peripheral arterial punctures has confirmed the technique as safe and free from major sequelae. Minor complications, mainly bruising and tenderness, occurred at 39% of sites; this incidence is much less than that previously reported following short-term arterial cannulation. At only 2% of sites was there any significant pain or tenderness. There was a small incidence of pulse diminution particularly at the radial site but no case of arterial occlusion. The use of a smaller needle (23 s.w.g.) significantly reduced the overall incidence of complications.
mesh_terms: D001158:Arteries; D006801:Humans; D009339:Needles; D011677:Punctures / Q000009:adverse effects*