Diluted venous blood appears arterial: implications for central venous cannulation.
There is always a danger of arterial puncture during central venous access. One can usually identify an inadvertent arterial puncture when the aspirated blood is bright red. This sign is removed if one were to put saline in the aspirating syringe, as dusky venous blood turns bright red on dilution.
Ho
A M
AM
Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong SAR, PRC. hoamh@hotmail.com
Chung
D C
DC
Tay
B A
BA
Yu
L M
LM
Yeo
P
P
D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D001790:Blood Physiological Phenomena; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous; D003116:Color; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D014680:Veins / Q000502:physiology
D006454:Hemoglobins; D010100:Oxygen