Comparison of Ultrasound-Guided and Palpation Techniques in Radial Artery Cannulation

Objective: This study aims to evaluate ultrasound-guided radial artery cannulation versus conventional digital palpation techniques in terms of first-trial success, number of attempts, intervention time, and complication rates. Methods: The study was designed as a prospective, randomized, controlled study. The study included 44 patients and divided into two groups: Group US (ultrasound guided cannulation group) and Group P (palpation cannulation group). Demographic data and clinical characteristics of the patients were recorded. Procedure time, number of cannulas used, success rate on the first attempt, complications and number of attempts were analyzed in both groups. Results: Demographic and clinical characteristics of the patients were similar between the groups. In the ultrasound-guided cannulation group, the cannulation time was significantly shorter (p=0.023), the success rate on the first attempt was higher (p=0.042), the number of cannulas used was lower (p=0.030), and the number of attempts was lower (p=0.039) compared to the palpation method. However, complication rates were similar between both groups. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ultrasound-guided radial artery cannulation is superior to digital palpation with higher first-trial success, shorter procedure time, and less cannula use. The results support the standardization of ultrasound-guided cannulation in larger populations. Keywords: Radial artery cannulation, ultrasound, palpation, success