Sonographically guided arterial blood sampling using a handheld Doppler device.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a commercially available handheld Doppler device for sonographic guidance during arterial blood sampling in patients whose veins are inaccessible and whose arterial pulses are indistinct on palpation. From September 2000 through February 2001, blood samples were obtained from the brachial arteries of 20 patients ranging in age from 60 to 85 years. A commercially available continuous-wave, handheld Versadopp 10 Doppler device with a 10-MHz transducer, connected to a stethoscope, was aligned over each patient's brachial artery and used to determine the point of maximum flow. The blood-collection needle was inserted into the skin and advanced toward the point of maximum flow. Arterial blood samples were successfully obtained with no more than 2 passes in each patient. Sampling was unsuccessful in 2 patients; blood was obtained, however, from the contralateral brachial artery in both patients. This Doppler tool is convenient and easy to use and is helpful for obtaining arterial blood samples from obese or edematous patients whose veins cannot be accessed and who have weak, indistinct arterial pulses.