BACKGROUND: Ultrasound with developing line may by suitable for medical personnel who are inexperienced in the use of ultrasound-guided radial artery puncture. In this trial, we assessed whether this technology could increase the success rate of radial artery puncture performed by interns.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Seventy-seven patients undergoing general anesthesia were enrolled and randomly divided into 2 groups: an ultrasound with developing line group and a traditional ultrasound group. All radial artery punctures were performed by interns who received theoretical explanation (including video demonstration of puncture) and on-site guidance puncture once. The primary end-point was the success rate of cannulation at the first attempt and the secondary end-point was cannulation failure rate.

RESULTS: The success rate of cannulation at the first attempt in ultrasound in the developing line group was significantly higher than that in the traditional ultrasound group (proportion difference: 34.21%, 95% confidence interval [CI], –0.5483 to –0.1334; P=0.0025). However, no significant between-group difference was observed with respect to failure rate (mean difference 95% CI, (−0.0084 to 0.2743; P=0.0866). The ultrasonic location time in the ultrasound with developing line group was significantly lower than that in the traditional ultrasound group (mean difference −12.4 seconds, 95% CI, 10.64 to 13.98 s; P<0.0000).

CONCLUSIONS: Use of ultrasound with developing line significantly improved the success rate of radial artery puncture performed by interns as compared to that with use of traditional dynamic ultrasound guidance technology.

Keywords: Internship and Residency, Radial Artery, Ultrasonography, Catheterization, Peripheral, Health Personnel, Physicians, Prospective Studies, Punctures, Vascular Surgical Procedures