Arterial line insertion is an important procedure with which all surgical trainees should be familiar. With adequate training and practise, it can be performed safely with low complication rate and can contribute significantly towards the management of critically ill medical and surgical patients.
http://content.nejm.org/cgi/content/video_preview/354/15/e13
This video article in the New England Journal of Medicine (vol. 354: e 13, Number 15) by Ken Tegtmeyer was published on 13 April 2006. It is the most up-to-date and evidence-based source of information about the procedure. The video was updated in May 2006. It covers the basic elements of arterial line insertion in a systematic way. It demonstrates both over-the-wire and over-the-needle techniques with a good description of relevant anatomy. Though you could get free access to the website after registration, to see the video it is $10, a price worth paying if any surgical trainee wants to learn or teach how to insert an arterial line.****
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arterial_line
This website provides valuable information regarding the indication, anatomy and insertion of arterial line. The links describe the relevant anatomy and steps of procedure with the help of diagrams and photographs. The anatomy links are particularly useful for first timers to ‘freshen up’ the relevant anatomy quickly. It is advertisement-free, easy to navigate and free of charge.****
http://www.firstconsult.com
This website by Elsevier provides reliable, in-depth information about the procedure. It covers most issues surrounding an arterial line insertion. It has an online movie demonstrating the procedure, which could be used for training purposes. Clinical conditions which require modifying the approach are well covered. However, it is a paid site, although with 30-day free trial and options for accessing via Athens; it is not a bad package.****
http://www.ispub.com/ostia/index.php?xmlFilePath=journals/ijh/vol3n1/aline.xml
Internet Scientific Publication is an American website which provides information regarding arterial line insertion and its complication in a simple way. The use of photographs to illustrate various steps involved in the procedure is effective. Though this useful information is available free of charge, the website is full of commercials that are distracting.***
http://www.fpnotebook.com/CV270.htm
The Family Practise Notebook website provides reliable information in a simple way. It covers salient features for insertion of arterial lines. Though it is free and has no distractions in the form of advertising, it lacks diagrams and photographs to reinforce the message.**
http://www.icu-usa.com/tour/equipment/aline.htm
This is an official patient and family website used by the American Society of Critical Care Medicine. It offers very little information to a doctor but provides a simple and clear understanding of arterial lines for the patient and relatives in ICU.**
http://www.medicineau.net.au/clinical/ICU/procedures/artlins.html
This Australian website is maintained by the Intensive Care Unit, Lismore Base Hospital. There is a comprehensive, but outdated, list of all the routine ICU procedures. The last time most of the links were updated was 1998. The website explains, in detail, the pre- and post-line insertion steps completely ignoring the procedure itself.*