Cannulation and complications JOEL ARUDCHELVAM

1. CANNULATION AND
COMPLICATIONS
JOEL ARUDCHELVAM
MBBS (COL), MD (SUR), MRCS (ENG)
CONSULTANTVASCULARANDTRANSPLANT SURGEON

2. Cannula
 Latin - "little reed"*
 A hollow tube with a retractable inner core that can
be inserted into a vein, an artery, or another body
cavity

3. Intravenous catheters
Includes;
 Peripheral cannula – Arterial /Venous
 Central catheters

4. PARTS OF CANNULA

5. Indication for cannulation
 Intravenous fluid administration
 Intravenous medications
 Intravenous chemotherapy
 Intravenous nutrition
 Blood or blood products administration
 Administration of radiological contrast

6. Sizes of cannula
COLOR CODE GAUGE OD m.m. FLOW RATE
ml/min.
Orange 14G 2.10 290
Grey 16G 1.70 176
White 17G 1.50 130
Green 18G 1.30 76
Pink 20G 1.00 54
Blue 22G 0.85 31
Yellow 24G 0.70 14

7. Upper limb veins
Upper Limb superficial veins
 Cephalic vein
 Basilic vein

8. Upper limb veins
 Cephalic vein - Close to ;
 Radial artery at wrist
 Brachial artery at elbow
 Basilic vein - Close to ;
 Brachial artery at elbow and arm

9. Upper limb veins
 Cephalic vein - Close to ;
 Radial artery at wrist
 Brachial artery at elbow
 Basilic vein - Close to ;
 Brachial artery at elbow and arm

10. Upper limb veins
Variations

11. Cannula Insertion Procedure
 Explain the procedure
 Select the appropriate size cannula
 Get all the equipment ready

12. The sites to avoid
 Wrist, feet, ankle
 Veins below a previous IV infiltration
 Phlebitic area or thrombosed veins
 Inflamed skin
 An arm with oedema, DVT, infection
 Arm with AVF

13. Cannula Insertion
 Surgical spirit
 Gloves
 Tourniquet
 An IV cannula
 Plaster
 A syringe
 Saline ,IV set and prime
 Kidney tray

14. Cannula Insertion
 Position the patient keep arm in a comfortable position
 Look for any abnormalities at the cannulation site , variations
 Apply tourniquet identify the vein
 Wear the glove and clean the site

15. Cannula Insertion
 Take the cannula open the wings of the cannula and hold the
cannula between the thumb index and middle fingers
 Stretch the skin distal to the site of insertion and insert the
cannula at 30°

16. Cannula Insertion
 Inspect for the flashback of blood in the hub
 Then insert the cannula a little more and then
withdraw the needle and advances cannula into vein
 Keep the pressure at the tip of the cannula and put
the cap to the hub
 Check for function

17. Cannula
Insertion
 Apply plaster, mark
date

18. Complications of cannulation
 Accidental intra arterial cannulation
 Infection
 Extravasation and compartment syndrome
 Fracture and retention of part of the cannula
/embolisation

19. Infection

20. Sources of
infection
 Site
 Ports
 Infusion fluid and
devices
 S. aureus - 60 to 90% of
infections

21. INFECTION PREVENTION
 Hand disinfection
 Sterile gloves
 Disinfect the skin insertion site.
 Cover with sterile dressing
 Remove catheter if signs of infection occur
 Change dressing only when necessary
 Close ports that are not needed with sterile caps

22. INFECTION PREVENTION
 Preparation and
administration of
intravenous mixtures

23. Accidental Intra Arterial
Cannulation / Injection

24. Risk factors
 Unconscious or sedated patients
 Trauma patients, hypotensive patients
 Vascular anomalies
 Children
 Receiving multiple infusion
 Obese

25. Intra-arterial cannulation / injection of
drugs
Results in thrombosis by;
 Spasm
 Trauma to the vessel wall and thrombosis
 Occlusion of the vessels by particles in the drug
 Crystallization of the drug after injection
 Endothelial injury - chemical arteritis resulting in platelet
adhesions
 High osmolarity causing vessel injury

26. Prevention of intra-arterial
cannulation / injection
 Knowledge about the anatomical variations ·
 Avoiding cannulation close the known neurovascular bundle
e.g. cubital fossa

27. Prevention of intra-arterial
cannulation / injection
 Recognition of intra-arterial cannulation in
case of accidental insertion of a cannula.
 When the cannula is within the artery -
flashback of bright red blood

28. If the cannula is within the artery …………………..
 There will be a pulsatile back bleeding of bright red blood
 There may be a hematoma formation
 If the cannula is connected with the infusion set or a syringe there will
be back flow of blood into these under high pressure
 Pain along the arm to fingers with injection

29. Accidental intra
arterial
injection

31. If the cannula is within the artery …………………..
If accidental intra-arterial cannulation is recognised
 Cannula should be immediately removed
 Apply local pressure
 The distal circulation should be monitored.
Arudchelvam J, Marasinghe A (2019) Accidental Intra-Arterial Injection of a Drug in a Patient with Radial Artery Variation; A
Rarity Leading to a Disaster. J Clinical Case Rep Case Stud 2019: 66-68.

32. In case of accidental intra-arterial
injection
 Do not remove the cannula
 the same cannula which was used for injection can be
used………..
 to flush the artery with heparin saline
 for injection of thrombolytic agents
 for injection of vasodilators
 can also be used to perform an angiography

33. In case of accidental intra-arterial
injection
 Treatment options
 Analgesics
 systemic heparinization
 Catheter directed intra-arterial thrombolysis (with
streptokinase, urokinase)
 systemic use of dextran and steroids
 Surgical interventions - thrombectomy or bypass

34. Extravasation

35. Extravasation

36. CANNULA TIP (CATHETER) FRACTURE
 The migration and embolization - both towards
and against the flow of blood.
 Results in
 Thrombosis
 Infection
 Embolisation
 Arrhythmia

37. Cannula tip (catheter) fracture

38. Cannula tip (catheter) fracture

39. Cannula tip (catheter) fracture
 Associated with
 Insertion at mobile sites
 longer duration of use
 Poor technique of insertion
 Multiple attempts at cannulation
 Repeated reinsertion of needle

40. Prevention
 Avoid Insertion at mobile sites
 Avoid longer duration of use
 Poor technique of insertion
 Repeated reinsertion of needle
 Detect and inform

41. Thank you