Static Ultrasound Guidance for Radial Arterial Puncture

Radial arterial puncture is a commonly performed procedure in emergency departments for arterial blood gas analysis and invasive hemodynamic monitoring. The conventional palpation technique may be associated with prolonged procedure duration and multiple puncture attempts, particularly in patients with weak arterial pulsation or difficult vascular anatomy. Ultrasound guidance has been proposed as a method to improve procedural success. This randomized controlled trial aimed to compare the static ultrasound-guided technique with the conventional palpation technique for radial arterial puncture in adult emergency department patients. The primary outcome was puncture duration. Secondary outcomes included first-attempt success rate, total number of attempts, procedure-related complications, and patient pain scores.

Inclusion Criteria: * Adult patients aged 18 years and older * Patients requiring radial arterial puncture in the emergency department * Patients who provided informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Patients younger than 18 years * Known vascular abnormalities or previous vascular surgery involving the puncture site * Local infection or skin lesion at the puncture site * Hemodynamic instability requiring immediate intervention * Inability to provide informed consent * Previous enrollment in the study