Nonphysician placement of arterial catheters. Experience with 500 insertions.
To improve availability of arterial line placement, we developed a nonphysician protocol for respiratory therapists to insert arterial catheters. In our experience with more than 500 catheter insertions, in which placement lasted from 1 to 20 days, superficial infection occurred in 5 percent of patients and a major complication occurred in only 1 patient. These results show that specially trained nonphysician personnel can insert arterial catheters safely when following a protocol. Similar reallocation of existing resources should increase patient care while decreasing patient care cost in most settings.
Gronbeck
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Department of Medicine, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, San Rafael, Calif. 94903.
Miller
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D000488:Allied Health Personnel; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects; D005263:Femoral Artery; D006801:Humans; D017534:Radial Artery; D012138:Respiratory Therapy