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| LETTERS TO EDITOR |
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| Year : 2022 | Volume
: 23
| Issue : 2 | Page : 144-145 |
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A rare case of unintentional cannulation of superficial radial artery mistaken for the cephalic vein – An ultrasound evaluation
Vinod Krishnagopal, Raj Murugan, A Shanmuga Priya, S Divyashree
Department of Anesthesiology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| Date of Submission | 22-Aug-2022 |
| Date of Decision | 22-Aug-2022 |
| Date of Acceptance | 10-Sep-2022 |
| Date of Web Publication | 29-Oct-2022 |
Correspondence Address:
Prof. Vinod Krishnagopal
Department of Anesthesiology, Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, Chromepet, Chennai - 600 044, Tamil Nadu
India
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/TheIAForum.TheIAForum_84_22
How to cite this article:
Krishnagopal V, Murugan R, Priya A S, Divyashree S. A rare case of unintentional cannulation of superficial radial artery mistaken for the cephalic vein – An ultrasound evaluation. Indian Anaesth Forum 2022;23:144-5 |
How to cite this URL:
Krishnagopal V, Murugan R, Priya A S, Divyashree S. A rare case of unintentional cannulation of superficial radial artery mistaken for the cephalic vein – An ultrasound evaluation. Indian Anaesth Forum [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Jun 4];23:144-5. Available from: http://www.theiaforum.org/text.asp?2022/23/2/144/359883 |
Sir,
A 79-year-old male patient was admitted to our hospital for the management of cellulitis of the left foot. The patient denied a history of any medical illness. The blood pressure recorded was persistently high. On evaluation, the patient's electrocardiogram revealed T-wave inversion on all chest leads. Echocardiography revealed concentric left ventricular hypertrophy with dilated left atrium suggestive of long-standing systemic hypertension. The patient was pale and his hemoglobin was 7.8 g/dl. The patient was started on oral antihypertensive medications and a tablet of aspirin 75 mg. As the cellulitis worsened, the patient was taken up for emergency fasciotomy. The dorsum of the right hand and wrist was evaluated for intravenous cannulation, and abnormal pulsation was seen in the posterior part of the lower one-third of the forearm. We felt that the abnormal pulsation could have been due to anemia and systemic hypertension. The cephalic vein in the anatomical snuff box was prominent and was prepared for cannulation. Following cannulation with an 18G Venflon, there was a pulsatile gush of bright red blood. The diagnosis of inadvertent intra-arterial cannulation was made and the cannula was removed and firm pressure was applied. As it was an unusual site for the artery to course, an ultrasound evaluation was carried out in both the forearms and hands. Ultrasound evaluation of the radial artery revealed a superficial vessel branching out in the forearm 10 cm proximal to the wrist crease and coursing laterally to the radius [[Figure 1] and Video 1]. The superficial branch then traveled posterior to the radius and entered superficially into the anatomical snuff box which made it vulnerable to accidental cannulation. The lumen of both the superficial and deep branches was equal [Figure 2]. A similar picture was noted in the left forearm. | Figure 1: Point of bifurcation of the radial artery into SRA and DRA. SRA: Superficial radial artery, DRA: Deep radial artery
Click here to view |
 | Figure 2: Caliber of SRA and DRA. SRA: Superficial radial artery, DRA: Deep radial artery
Click here to view |
The abovementioned proximal bifurcation of the radial artery into the superficial radial artery and the deep branch is a Manners-Smith second-class anatomical variation. Embryologically, the radial artery divides into the superficial and deep branches, the superficial branch regresses and the deep branch continues to remain as the radial artery.[1] Failure of regression of the superficial branch results in a superficial radial artery. The incidence of superficial radial artery is 0.5%–1%.[2] The occurrence of this variation bilaterally is very rare.[3] Knowledge about this anatomical variation is important to anesthesiologists, as the radial artery may be cannulated accidentally instead of the cephalic vein. This tendency may be more common in patients with morbid obesity, darkly pigmented skin, thoracic outlet syndrome, and hypotension.[4] Injury to the artery may lead to temporary blockade, pseudoaneurysm, and hematoma.[5] Accidental injection of drugs intra-arterially might further complicate the scenario resulting in ischemia and necrosis of the digits.[6]
Our patient was unique as the variation was bilateral and the size of both the branches was equal. Although this kind of anatomical variation is rare, in the modern era of imaging, we feel that in the presence of abnormal pulsation in the forearm it would be prudent for the anesthesiologist to perform an ultrasound scanning before venturing into cannulation.
Declaration of patient consent
The authors certify that they have obtained all appropriate patient consent forms. In the form, the patient(s) has/have given his/her/their consent for his/her/their images and other clinical information to be reported in the journal. The patients understand that their names and initials will not be published and due efforts will be made to conceal their identity, but anonymity cannot be guaranteed.
Financial support and sponsorship
Nil.
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
| References | |  |
| 1. | Babazadeh N, Zielsdorf S, Williams L, Farlow E, Keen R, Sheng N. Four patients with a clinically significant radial artery anomaly. J Vasc Surg Cases Innov Tech 2019;5:104-6.  |
| 2. | Rodríguez-Niedenführ M, Vázquez T, Nearn L, Ferreira B, Parkin I, Sañudo JR. Variations of the arterial pattern in the upper limb revisited: A morphological and statistical study, with a review of the literature. J Anat 2001;199:547-66. |
| 3. | Mccormack LJ, Cauldwell EW, Anson BJ. Brachial and antebrachial arterial patterns; a study of 750 extremities. Surg Gynecol Obstet 1953;96:43-54. |
| 4. | Ghouri AF, Mading W, Prabaker K. Accidental intraarterial drug injections via intravascular catheters placed on the dorsum of the hand. Anesth Analg 2002;95:487-91, table of contents. |
| 5. | Scheer B, Perel A, Pfeiffer UJ. Clinical review: Complications and risk factors of peripheral arterial catheters used for haemodynamic monitoring in anaesthesia and intensive care medicine. Crit Care 2002;6:199-204. |
| 6. | Beale EW, Behnam A. Injection injury of an aberrant superficial radial artery requiring surgical intervention. J Hand Microsurg 2012;4:39-42. |
[Figure 1], [Figure 2]
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