title: The use of alpha-system set for arterial catheterization.
abstract: The use of a new set for arterial catheterization (Alpha-system) is presented. In fifty patients arterial cannulation was performed (femoral artery was used in 47 cases). The mean duration of cannulation was 6.7 days. Some minor complications, such as haematoma (5 cases), kinking of catheter (2 cases) and technical difficulties are described. Five out of 50 catheter tips were colonized by gram-negative germs. The use of the Alpha-system set avoids to a large extent haematoma, as the tapping hole is completely occluded by the catheter, and the plastic sound (instead of a metallic one) neither perforates the opposite wall nor dislodges an atheromatous plaque. We recommend a careful clinical and arteriographic control of the region supplied by the cannulated artery as well as a strict aseptic technique of puncture and dressing.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001158:Arteries / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged