Cannulation of the dorsal radial artery: a new technique.

Percutaneous cannulation of the radial artery is commonly performed to monitor arterial blood pressure and obtain arterial blood samples for blood gas analysis. The radial artery is usually entered on the volar aspect of the wrist. It is also possible to cannulate the radial artery on the dorsum of the hand, where it emerges from the anatomic snuffbox. Here the radial artery assumes a superficial location, passing beneath the tendon of the extensor pollicis longus and between the bases of the first and second metacarpals. This report reviews our experience with dorsal radial arterial cannulation.