Pulse Oximetry-facilitated Arterial Cannulation in Pediatric Anesthesia for Cardiac Surgery

Invasive blood pressure monitoring is required in cardiac surgery for several reasons. Arterial cannulation in pediatrics is a daily challenge for anesthesiologists. Localization of the artery before catheterization is usually done by palpation or guided by ultrasounds. These two techniques are not always efficient and sometimes generate complications and a considerable loss of time. Through this clinical case, we describe a simple and innovative technique inspired by our daily practice allowing locating the artery with the help of pulse oximetry.