Sunday January 11, 2009

Case: 53 year old male is going for urgent thoracic aortic aneurysm repair. On which side should you place the radial arterial line?

Answer: On right radial artery

If the aortic aneurysm begins at or around the left subclavian artery, this vessel might be included in the aortic clamp and reconnected separately into the new aortic graft. Therefore, the left radial artery pressure might not be measurable for a while. Also, both right and left radial arteries can be cannulated to visualize circulation in both arms.