Jolly S, et al. Routine ultrasonography guidance for femoral vascular access for cardiac procedures (UNIVERSAL randomized clinical trial)

21

Ultrasound reliably improves the mechanics of femoral access. Whether that converts into a clinical outcome depends on how costly a failed pass is in that setting: in an elective catheter laboratory it is not, in ECPR it is.

Femoral access without routine ultrasound

DOI 10.1001/jamacardio.2022.3399; NCT03537118

Routine ultrasound-guided femoral arterial access

Patients had a circulation, so both cues that identify a vessel were intact. Does not transfer directly to an arresting patient; underpowered for the composite.

Null on the primary composite endpoint; positive on every mechanical endpoint (first-pass success, number of attempts, venipuncture).

Adults undergoing coronary procedures via femoral arterial access, with a circulation