clinical_procedures
clinical procedures in the ED
see also:
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation:
- surgical airway
- procedural sedation:
- reduction of dislocated shoulder:
- reduction of dislocated prosthetic hip:
- other pediatric procedures
- lumbar puncture:
- central line placement
- NB. central lines should generally be performed under US guidance, if unavailable, then consider the safer femoral vein route, although these should be removed within 24 hours of placement.
- NB. central venous lines (CVC's) must be removed when the patient is supine NOT when sitting up otherwise there is risk of air embolism.
- regional anaesthesia
- thoracostomy
- thoracentesis (pleural tap)
- arthrocentesis (joint aspiration)
- knee joint
- anteromedial approach:
- medial aspect mid-patella with leg extended
- preferred approach for rheumatologists, especially if giving steroid injections
- medial capsule is generally looser and easier to penetrate than the lateral side with less risk of impacting bone/cartilage
- suprapatella bursa approach
- easiest for those with obvious suprapatellar effusions - more difficult in obese patients
- 1cm sup and 1cm lateral to proximal edge of patella - needle parallel to bed with leg extended
- risk of intratendinous injection or pain if needle not angled correctly posteriorly and superiorly
- infrapatella approach
- below patella and posterior to patellar tendon whilst patient sitting with knee flexed 90deg
- narrower target space posterior to the patellar tendon; higher risk of intratendinous or intra‑bone placement if not careful
- used if other approaches contra-indicated
- ultrasound guided provides better accuracy and potentially less pain in those with smaller effusions
- for large effusions, use a stop cock to allow changing syringes to gain more aspirate for effusion relief
- arterial line placement
- urethral catherisisation
- suprapubic aspiration and catheterisation
other procedures
links to clinical procedures on the web
clinical_procedures.txt · Last modified: 2026/03/24 04:55 by gary1