[The intern's vein--the patient's nightmare?].
BACKGROUND
Punction of blood vessels is a necessity in modern medicine, but there is a paucity of knowledge about the close relation between vessels and nerves.


METHODS
We refer to two cases that show possible consequences of cannulation of v. cephalica and a. radialis.


RESULTS
Both patients developed clinical symptoms and neurological findings indicating injury of the radial nerve. One of the patients is not likely to develop chronic neuropathic pain, but in the other patient the similar injury of the radial nerve has lead to chronic and disabling pain.


CONCLUSIONS
We advise against using the distal part of v. cephalica (the intern's vein) as the first choice for training of inexperienced students. The vein should only be used in patients that lack other venous alternatives and in acute situations where quick infusions or blood transfusions are needed.
Kvarstein
Gunnvald
G
Anestesi- og intensivklinikken, Oslo universitetssykehus, Rikshospitalet, Postboks 4950 Nydalen, 0424 Oslo, Norway. gunnvald.kvarstein@medisin.uio.no
Jørum
Ellen
E
D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006930:Hyperalgesia / Q000209:etiology; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology; D017534:Radial Artery; D011826:Radial Nerve / Q000293:injuries*; D012307:Risk Factors