title: A "smart needle" to facilitate difficult vascular access in pediatric patients.
abstract: A new Doppler probe inside a needle was evaluated in a group of infants and children to assess its suitability for subclavian venous access. While the efficient use of this device required learning a new technique, we found the device useful to accurately locate the subclavian vein and differentiate it from the artery in all patients weighing more than 3 kg. This device will be most helpful in cases of difficult access, eg, scar from previous access, obesity, or edema.
authors.affiliation: University of Tennessee Memphis LeBonheur Children's Medical Center/St Jude Children's Research Hospital.
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Lobe
authors.forename: K P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Schropp
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: B N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Rao
mesh_terms: D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009339:Needles; D013350:Subclavian Vein / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014464:Ultrasonic Therapy / Q000295:instrumentation; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000295:instrumentation