BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS  Findings in the literature are conflicting on whether trainee involvement in endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) procedures is detrimental to cannulation success rates. We addressed this in a prospective study, where cannulation success with or without trainee presence was the primary outcome measure. PATIENTS AND METHODS  We prospectively recorded...

The cannulation method and cardioplegia solution used during cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) may both influence plasma potassium concentrations ([K+]) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP). Bi-caval or right atrial cannulation methods are routinely used in conjunction with crystalloid or blood cardioplegia. We investigated the influence of cannulation method and cardioplegia solutions on plasma [...

BACKGROUND The precut timing during the biliary cannulation algorithm is a subject of controversy. Some studies suggest that early institution of precut is a safe and effective strategy even though the extent to which this approach may affect the duration of the ERCP is seldom addressed. OBJECTIVE To assess the success, safety, and procedure duration of an early precut fistulotomy (group A) v...

BACKGROUND The primary aim of this study was to compare the incidence of accidental arterial puncture during right internal jugular vein (RIJV) cannulation with and without ultrasound guidance (USG). The secondary end points were to assess if USG improves the chances of successful first pass cannulation and if BMI has an impact on incidence of arterial puncture and the number of attempts that a...

BACKGROUND/AIMS Several precut techniques have been used to gain biliary access for difficult cases. The aim of this study was to evaluate the success and complication rates of two precut techniques, transpancreatic septotomy (TPS) and needle knife infundibulotomy (NKI), in difficult biliary cannulation due to the presence of unintended pancreatic cannulation. METHODS Eighty-six patients who ...

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The relative merits of buttonhole (or blunt needle) versus rope ladder (or sharp needle) cannulation for hemodialysis vascular access are unclear. DESIGN, SETTING, PARTICIPANTS, & MEASUREMENTS Clinical outcomes by cannulation method were reviewed in 90 consecutive home hemodialysis patients. Initially, patients were trained in rope ladder cannulation. From 2004 on, a...

We describe the St Michael's Hospital (SMH) modified buttonhole (BH) cannulation technique as a method that offers a solution for fistulae with aneurysmal dilatation due to repetitive cannulation in a restricted area. This is a prospective cohort study of 14 chronic hemodialysis (HD) patients with problematic fistulae (marked aneurysmal formation and thinning of the overlying skin, bleeding dur...

Placement of IV catheters is a painful and stressful procedure for children. J-Tip is a needle-less Food and Drug Administration approved injection system that can be used for delivery of local anesthetic before IV cannulation. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of J-Tip versus eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA) to facilitate IV cannulation and provide adequate analgesia bef...

Cannulation of arteriovenous fistulae is technically more challenging than cannulation of arteriovenous grafts. With the advent of the National Vascular Improvement Initiative, Fistula First, the United States has seen an increase in the number of arteriovenous fistulae. The problem we now face is how to refocus and reeducate nurses to the intricacies of arteriovenous fistula cannulation. Throu...

Selective biliary cannulation during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is required to perform all therapeutic biliary procedures. Despite major advances in imaging, guidewires and sphincterotome catheter designs, the success rate for biliary cannulation by experienced endoscopists during ERCP is approximately 85% when standard cannulation techniques are applied. Precut sphin...