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Introduction: Central vascular cannulation in children is a highly complex technique and poses many difficulties. Vascular ultrasound can make this procedure easier., Objective: To describe the characteristics of ultrasound-guided vascular cannulation in critically-ill pediatric patients., Population and Methods: Outcome measures prospectively recorded were vessels most frequently cannulated, their localization, the measurement of their diameter/depth, the success rate and complications developed, among others., Results: One hundred and twenty four vascular punctures were performed in 86 pediatric patients. Vascular accesses were the femoral vein (39.7%), followed by the femoral artery (27.2%) and the internal jugular vein (14.7%). Femoral vessels were localized at a depth of 0.75 ± 0.25 mm, with a mean diameter of 0.31 ± 0.16 mm. The depth of jugular vein vessels was smaller (0.64 ± 0.24 mm) and their overall diameter, larger (0.44 ± 0.19 mm). The mean number of attempts in ultrasound-guided cannulations was 2.2 ± 1.3. The success rate was 79% and was associated to a larger vessel diameter (0.39 ± 0.20 mm vs. 0.28 ± 0.13 mm, p= 0.01) and a lower number of attempts (1.90 ± 1.16 vs. 3.45 ± 1.77, p= 0.001). Complications were accidental puncture of another vessel (5.3%) and hematoma formation during puncture (2.3%)., Conclusions: In the pediatric patients studied, ultrasound-guided vascular cannulation allowed vessel visualization and measurement of their depth and diameter; the success rate was high and it was associated to a low complication rate., (Sociedad Argentina de Pediatría.)

Unlabelled: Central vascular cannulation is not a risk-free procedure, especially in pediatric patients. Newborn and infants are small and low-weighted, their vascular structures have high mobility because of tissue laxity and their vessels are superficial and with small diameter. These characteristics, together with the natural anatomical variability and poor collaboration of small children, make this technique more difficult to apply. Therefore, ultrasound imaging is increasingly being used to locate vessels and guide vascular access in this population., Objective: (a) To present a model that simulates the vascular system for training ultrasound-guided vascular access in pediatrics patients; (b) to ultrasound-guided vascular cannulation in the model., Results: The model consisted of two components: (a) muscular component: avian muscle, (b) vascular component: elastic tube-like structure filled with fluid. 864 ecoguided punctures was realized in the model at different vessel depth and gauge measures were simulated, for two medical operators with different degree of experience. The average depth and diameter of vessel cannulated were 1.16 (0.42)cm and 0.43 (0.1)cm, respectively. The average number of attempts was of 1.22 (0.62). The percentage of visualization of the needle was 74%. The most frequent maneuver used for the correct location, was the modification of the angle of the needle and the relocation of the guidewire in 24% of the cases. The average time for the correct cannulations was 41 (35.8)s. The more frequent complications were the vascular perforation (11.9%) and the correct vascular puncture without possibility of introducing the guidewire (1.2%). The rate of success was 96%., Conclusions: The model simulates the anatomy (vascular and muscular structures) of a pediatric patient. It is cheap models, easily reproducible and a useful tool for training in ultrasound-guided puncture and cannulation., (Copyright © 2015 Elsevier España, S.L.U. y SEMICYUC. All rights reserved.)