Allen test in evaluation of the effects of radial artery catheters

Caner Arslan; Emir Cantürk; Bekir Kayhan; Mehmet Şeker; Adeviye Gökoğlu; Levent Kaplan

Caner Arslan¹, Emir Cantürk¹, Bekir Kayhan¹, Mehmet Şeker², Adeviye Gökoğlu², Levent Kaplan³

¹TDV 29 Mayıs Hastanesi, Kalp ve Damar Cerrahisi Kliniği, İstanbul
²TDV 29 Mayıs Hastanesi, Radyoloji Bölümü, İstanbul
³TDV 29 Mayıs Hastanesi, Anestezi ve Reanimasyon Bölümü, İstanbul

Background: Insertion of an arterial catheter for pressure monitoring is a routine part of anesthetic management for cardiac surgery. We investigated the efficacy of the Allen test in evaluation of the effects of catheter insertion into the radial artery on arterial patency and the hand circulation.

Methods: Hand circulations in 50 patients (39 males, 11 females; mean age 56; range 27 to 75 years) who had undergone cardiac surgery, were evaluated with Allen test and doppler ultrasound preoperatively and 10 days after decannulation. Volume of flow of radial artery at snuff-box was measured.

Results: Although a mean 23% decrease in the flow rate was observed in nine of 50 patients (18%), Allens tests did not changed. No hand ischemia was seen, because radial and ulnar artery flow was sufficient.

Conclusion: Allens test showing efficient ulnar artery flow is enough for safety of hand circulation in patients whose radial arteries were cannulated.

Keywords : Arm/blood supply; catheterization; radial artery/ transplantation

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