Ultrasound-guided venous cannulation by inexperienced residents: comparison of 2 methods

Objectives. To compare venous catheter insertion by inexperienced medical residents using a traditional ultrasound guidance method and ultrasound with a probe to guide the needle. Methods. Experimental study in which a group of 32 medical resident volunteers attempted to established a venous access in a simulator using ultrasound guidance with and without addition of a bracket device to guide insertion of the needle. We recorded the number of attempts and the time required to insert the catheter. Results. Catheterization took an average of 16.22 seconds with the device and 29.93 without it (P = .045). Fewer attempts were required with the needle guidance device (mean, 1.09 attempts vs 1.88 with the conventional method; P = .001). The subjective assessment of 59.4% of the residents was that the procedure with the guide bracket was easier; however, 25% felt the conventional method was, easier and 15.6% reported a similar level of difficulty with both methods. Conclusions. In this group of residents without prior experience of venous cannulation or ultrasound guidance, significantly fewer attempts were required and the catheter was correctly inserted sooner when the needle guide was used. Furthermore, most residents felt insertion was easier when the guide was used.