Ultrasound-guided posterior tibial artery cannulation as a rescue for intraoperative accidental arterial line displacement in the prone position: A case report

Introduction

Arterial cannulation enables beat‐to‐beat blood pressure monitoring, assessment of fluid responsiveness, and frequent blood sampling for arterial blood gas analysis intraoperatively as well as in the post-operative period.^[1] It is also helpful in hemodynamic monitoring and interpretation of blood pressure variation in neuro surgeries (especially near the brain stem) and spine surgeries. In clinical practice, radial artery, femoral artery, ulnar artery, dorsalis paedis artery are frequently used; the radial artery is the most common owing to having multiple advantages.^[2] However, most of these sites are not easily accessible intraoperatively in patients being positioned prone. In such a scenario, the posterior tibial artery, which is a superficial and easily palpable artery, can provide an alternative site for cannulation. However, anatomical variations and restrictions due to positioning, limb edema can lead to failures in cannulation by the landmark technique. Ultrasound is especially useful for vascular access in patients with low perfusion, arrhythmias, obesity, and previously unsuccessful attempts with the palpation technique. We present such a case to highlight the importance of ultrasound in posterior tibial artery cannulation as a rescue method for intraoperative accidental radial arterial line displacement in the prone position.

Case Report

A 42-year-old male patient, 60 Kg, American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status-2, was undergoing Atlanto-occipital fusion. He had a history of progressive quadriparesis with shortness of breath for two months. He was also on Anti-tubercular multi-drug therapy for pulmonary tuberculosis for two months. Pre-operative Haemoglobin was 12.3 gm/dl, Platelets 3.67 lakhs/microliter. Computed Tomography scan spine revealed Atlanto-axial subluxation with basilar indentation of odontoid process with severe compression of the cortico-medullary junction. Under general anaesthesia, with a cervical collar in place, the patient was intubated using a videolaryngoscope. Intra-arterial cannulation for monitoring was planned in view of the risk of hemodynamic variation, and the left radial arterial cannula was inserted by the conventional palpatory method. After turning the patient prone, it was realised that the arterial cannula had got dislodged during positioning. It was difficult to access and re-cannulate the radial or dorsalis paedis arteries in the prone position. So, posterior tibial artery cannulation was attempted but difficulties in getting a position for cannula insertion by the conventional palpatory method was faced. After that, the posterior tibial artery was located using a short axis view; then probe was rotated 90° to view the course of the artery in the long axis. An arterial line was secured with 20 G arterial cannula (BD, USA) in the right posterior tibial artery using ultrasound (Linear probe 7 -11 MHz, GE, vivid S5) by long-axis in-plane approach ([Figure 1]) in the first attempt. The surgery went for four hours, was uneventful, and the patient was extubated on the table. Patient was shifted to ICU for post-operative hemodynamic monitoring. No hematoma, thrombosis, nerve injury, or spasm was noted, and the arterial cannula was removed after 24 hrs.

Discussion

The prone position provides optimal exposure for spine surgery,^[3] however, arterial and other vascular cannulations become difficult after the patient is positioned prone. Ultrasound-guided vascular cannulations can be very useful in such situations, and central venous cannulation using long-axis in-plane approach in prone position has beed described.^[4]

Traditionally, arterial cannulation is done using the landmark technique by palpating the arterial pulse with various first-attempt success rates. Multiple attempts can cause arterial spasms and hematoma. Rawal P. has described cannulation of the posterior tibial artery in prone patients using a landmark guided approach.^[3] Various studies have shown that the rate of successful cannulation increases significantly under ultrasound guidance.^[1], ^[5], ^[6] The earliest reports on USG-guided arterial cannulation go back to 1989, where the application of continuous-wave Doppler to aid in cannulation was described.^[7] Real-time ultrasound provides the operator the benefit of visualizing the pulsating artery and the surrounding anatomic structures prior to and during catheter insertion, thereby minimizing complications and increasing success rate. This is especially useful in abnormal patient positions.

It is now well-perceived that ultrasound is helpful in vascular access. Recommendations for the use of ultrasound in central vein cannulation^[8] have come; and real time arterial cannulation has also been recommended in many RCTs. Our case highlights the use of ultrasound guided posterior tibial artery cannulation during accidental arterial dislodgement in the prone position.

Conclusion

Use of ultrasound as an adjunct to arterial cannulations should be considered a good practice. We believe that with continuous improvement of ultrasound-guided vascular techniques and availability of ultrasound machines, real-time ultrasound-guided arterial cannulations should become the standard of care.

Source of Funding

None.

Conflict of Interest

None.