MEGLIO IL LACCIO O IL BRACCIALE?

Am J Emerg Med. 2014 Jul;32(7):761-4. doi: 10.1016/j.ajem.2014.04.020. Epub 2014 Apr 18.

Randomized trial of tourniquet vs blood pressure cuff for target vein dilation in ultrasound-guided peripheral intravenous access.

Nelson D¹, Jeanmonod R², Jeanmonod D³.

Author information

• ¹2. St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA.
• ²2. St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. Electronic address: rebeccajeanmonod@yahoo.com.
• ³2. St. Luke's University Hospital, 801 Ostrum St, Bethlehem, PA 18015, USA. Electronic address: jeanmono@yahoo.com.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Ten percent of the time, peripheral intravenous access (PIV) is not obtained in 2 attempts in the emergency department. Typically, a tourniquet is used to dilate the target vein; but recent research showed that a blood pressure (BP) cuff improves dilation, which may translate to increased PIV success.

OBJECTIVES:

We sought to determine if there is improved success in obtaining ultrasound-guided PIV using a BP cuff vs a tourniquet in "difficult stick" patients.

METHODS:

This is a prospective, randomized, single-blinded trial. Adult patients requiring PIV with at least 2 prior failed attempts were enrolled. Patients were assigned to tourniquet or BP cuff for target vein dilation randomly. Nurses prepared the patient for PIV attempt by either placing a BP cuff inflated to 150 mm Hg or placing a tourniquet on the chosen extremity. The extremity was draped to blind the physician to assignment. Physicians then attempted ultrasound-guided PIV. Failures were defined as IVs requiring greater than 3 ultrasound-guided attempts or 30 minutes, or patient intolerance. If failure occurred, the physician was unblinded; and the patient could be crossed over and reattempted.

RESULTS:

Thirty-eight patients were enrolled. The success rate for the tourniquet group (n = 17) and BP cuff group (n = 21) was 82.4% and 47.6%, respectively (P = .04). There were no differences between groups for vessel depth, diameter, or procedure time. Six in the BP cuff group were crossed over and had successful PIV obtained with tourniquet.

CONCLUSIONS:

Tourniquet is superior to BP cuff for target vein dilation in ultrasound-guided PIV.
Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

PMID:

24856748

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]