Importance of Specialized Nursing Care in Adrenal Venous Sampling

Objective: To explore the key nursing points before, during, and after adrenal venous sampling. Methods: A total of 147 patients with primary aldosteronism (PA) underwent adrenal venous sampling (AVS) via catheter insertion through the elbow vein (median cubital vein, basilic vein, or cephalic vein) to determine the appropriate treatment plan. Results: 145 patients successfully completed AVS, while 2 patients failed in right adrenal venous sampling due to adrenal vein rupture and hematoma formation. Among the 147 patients, 121 were punctured through the median cubital vein, 10 through the cephalic vein, and 16 through the basilic vein. In 3 cases where the cephalic vein was initially punctured, the guidewire could not be inserted into the vein, requiring a switch to the basilic vein for successful insertion. Conclusion: Preoperative reasonable arrangement of operation time and strengthening of psychological nursing care, seamless cooperation with surgeons during the operation, and prioritizing puncture of the median cubital vein or basilic vein, with a puncture needle direction favoring the basilic vein during median cubital vein puncture, can significantly reduce operation time. This effectively avoids discomfort, such as back pain, caused by prolonged surgery. Postoperative observation of the patient’s condition and specialized nursing care can effectively reduce the occurrence of complications.