ABSTRACT
The intravenous route is used routinely for all maintenance intravenous fluids and drugs. However, there are occasions when arterial access is necessary. It is more accurate to gain estimation of pH, oxygen and carbon dioxide using arterial blood. Similarly, it is more accurate to measure blood pressure via a cannula in the artery in sick children than using the normal blood pressure cuff. The cannula placed in the artery is kept patent by a slow infusion of fluid that contains an anticoagulant.
