Essential critical care skills 3: arterial line care

This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

In this article…

• The use of arterial lines in critical care

• The significance of normal, dampened and undampened arterial waveforms

• Correct arterial line care and complications

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Key points

Arterial lines are used to monitor arterial blood pressure and obtain arterial blood gases and blood specimens

They should only be used in clinical areas where staff have the competency to care for them safely

Correct arterial line care is essential to reduce complications and ensure patient safety

All care should be documented as per local policy and any concerns must be reported to the nurse in charge of the patient

Abstract

An arterial line is a small catheter that is directly inserted into an artery. The procedure is associated with risks, so it is important that appropriate care is taken during and after insertion. This article is part three of the essential critical care skills series, and discusses the insertion of arterial lines, monitoring of an arterial waveform, and any associated risks or complications with this critical care procedure.