Question #41
A diabetic patient is brought into A and E following a road traffic accident. You have been told to obtain intravenous access to start resuscitation. Which of the following would be the most appropriate blood vessel?
In this situation a large vein is required. Any of the three prominent veins in the antecubital fossa would be appropriate - basilic, cephalic or median cubital.
Veins below the antecubital fossa begin to get too small to support rapid fluid resuscitation should it be required.
If venous access is difficult a cut down can be performed to access the long saphenous vein. However, this should not be a first-line approach, especially in diabetics who often have peripheral vascular disease, are prone to poor healing and ulceration in the lower limb.
There is no cephalic artery!