Context

In routine emergency medicine practice we use peripheral venous, central venous and arterial catheters in adults and children. Ultrasound has been used to assist line placement for over 20 years. We know that ultrasound aids placement of central lines as well as peripheral lines, both in terms of speed of access and reduction of complications [1,2].

The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) [3] has highlighted the need for the use of ultrasound to guide central venous access cannulation, and it has been this recommendation that has partly driven the wider use of ultrasound in emergency medicine [4]. This learning session will cover the indications and techniques for jugular, femoral and peripheral cannulation.