Ultrasound-guided dynamic needle tip positioning versus conventional palpation for improving the success rate of radial artery catheterization: A randomized controlled trial.
J Vasc AccessMay 7, 2026 (epub)
Baoying Feng, Xiayu Zou, Jieqiang Du et al.
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In 30 seconds
This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effectiveness of ultrasound-guided dynamic needle tip positioning (DNTP) versus conventional palpation for radial artery catheterization in 160 elective surgery patients. The DNTP group demonstrated significantly higher first-attempt success rates (100.00% vs 81.25%) and overall success rates (100.00% vs 82.50%), with shorter median procedure times and lower complication rates.
Key findings
- First-attempt success rates were 100.00% for DNTP versus 81.25% for palpation (p < 0.001).
- Median procedure time was shorter with DNTP at 27.5 seconds compared to 35 seconds for palpation (p = 0.039).
- Complication rates were significantly lower with DNTP at 16.25% compared to 50.00% for palpation (p < 0.001).
- Single-catheter use was more frequent in the DNTP group at 100.00% versus 91.25% in the palpation group (p = 0.007).
Why it matters
Improving the success rate and safety of radial artery catheterization is crucial for patient outcomes, especially in those with challenging anatomical features. This study highlights the advantages of using ultrasound guidance in clinical practice.