Evaluation of Success of Arterial Cannulation Employing the Dorsalis Pedis Artery Versus Posterior Tibial Artery: A Clinical Comparative Study

OBJECTIVE: The dorsalis pedis artery and posterior tibial artery are recognised sites for arterial cannulation. This study aimed to compare the first-attempt success rates of cannulation along with other cannulation characteristics of these 2 arteries in adult patients undergoing surgery under general anaesthesia using the conventional palpatory method. METHODS: Two hundred twenty adults were allocated randomly into 2 groups. The dorsalis pedis artery and posterior tibial artery were attempted for cannulation in the dorsalis pedis artery and posterior tibial artery group, respectively. First-attempt success rates, cannulation times, number of attempts, ease of cannulation, and complications were recorded. RESULTS: Demographic characteristics, pulse characteristics, single-attempt success rates, ease of cannulation, reasons for failure, and complications were similar. Single-attempt success rates were similar (64.5% and 61.8%, P = .675) with equal median attempt. Easy cannulation (Visual Analogue Scale score ≤4) was the same in both groups, whereas percentages of difficult cannulation (Visual Analogue Scale scores ≥4) were 16.4% and 19.1% in the dorsalis pedis artery and posterior tibial artery groups, respectively. Cannulation time was lower in the dorsalis pedis artery group [median time in seconds: 37 (28, 63) seconds vs. 44 (29, 75) seconds, P = .027]. Single-attempt success rates were lower in the feeble pulse group as compared to the strong pulse group (48.61% vs. 70.27%, P = .002). Likewise, a higher Visual Analogue Scale of ease of cannulation (>4 score) was seen in the feeble pulse group compared to the strong pulse group (26.39% vs. 13.51%, P = .019). CONCLUSIONS: The single-attempt success rate was similar for both dorsalis pedis artery and posterior tibial artery. However, the time taken for cannulating the posterior tibial artery is significantly higher than that for dorsalis pedis artery.