Table 1 Characteristics of the included randomized controlled trials
Study | Number of patients (ultrasound/control) | Population | Age | Setting | Control | Operator |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Levin et al., 2003 [2] | 69 (34/35) | Adult | Ultrasound/Palpation: 59.9 yr/66.4 yr (mean) | Elective abdominal, cardiothoracic, vascular surgery and neurosurgery | Palpation | Anesthetists with experience of ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization but no experience of ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization |
Schwemmer et al., 2006 [3] | 30 (15/15) | Small children and infants | 28 months (median) | Elective neurosurgery | Palpation | Anesthetists with experience of >20 ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization |
Shiver et al., 2006 [4] | 60 (30/30) | Adult | ≥18 yr | Emergency department | Palpation | Anesthetists with experience of ultrasound-guided peripheral and central venous catheterization but no experience of ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization |
Ganesh et al., 2009 [5] | 152 (72/80) | Children | Ultrasound/Palpation: 99.1 months/99.6 months (mean) | Elective abdominal, craniofacial, orthopedic, thoracic surgery and neurosurgery | Palpation | Anesthetists with experience of <10 ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization |
Bobbia et al., 2013 [6] | 72 (37/35) | Adult | Ultrasound/Palpation: 69 yr/71 yr (mean) | Emergency department | Palpation | Physicians with absence of an observational training period |
Ueda et al., 2013 [7] | 104 (52/52) | Small children and infants | Ultrasound/Doppler: 6 months/5 months (median) | Elective major surgery (mainly cardiac surgery) | Doppler | Anesthetists with experience of <5 ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization |
Ishii et al., 2013 [8] | 59 (59/59)* | Small children and infants | 18.4 months (median) | Elective cardiac surgery for congenital heart disease | Palpation | Anesthetists with experience of ultrasound-guided central venous catheterization but no experience of ultrasound-guided arterial catheterization |