Peripheral Intravenous Line Access
A peripheral intravenous catheter is used to access a peripheral vein. To start a peripheral intravenous line, identify the site, place a tourniquet, clean the skin, stabilize the vein, and insert the catheter. When a “flash” is obtained, thread off the catheter, connect it to the tubing, and secure. This chapter describes tips for finding common intravenous access sites in children, which are the metacarpal, saphenous, cephalic, median, and scalp veins. These veins vary in size, depth, and difficulty. Metacarpal/dorsal hand veins are on the dorsal aspect of the hand and typically arise from adjacent digital veins and form a network that usually provides several targets for access, although there is significant variation. These veins form the cephalic vein (radial side) and basilic vein (ulnar side) as they converge. The cephalic vein arises from the lateral (radial) side of the dorsal venous network before curving around the wrist to run along the anterolateral forearm, where it is frequently easily accessed. It continues on this course up the arm, but more proximally it is less superficial. The median cubital vein runs from the cephalic vein medially toward the basilic vein diagonally across the antecubital fossa and is reliably present if not always visible. The greater saphenous vein is formed on the foot from the dorsal vein of the great toe and the dorsal venous arch of the foot. It ascends anteriorly to the medial malleolus and superiorly up the medial calf.