Seldinger

Seldinger technique is a medical procedure to obtain safe access to blood vessels and other hollow organs. It is named after Dr. Sven-Ivar Seldinger, a Swedish radiologist who introduced the procedure in 1953. The main advantage of the technique is that a puncture wound only needs to be made once.

Procedure

The Seldinger technique involves the introduction of a needle into the desired cavity, such as a blood vessel. A guidewire is then passed through the needle, which is subsequently removed. A dilator is passed over the guidewire to expand the tract, followed by the desired catheter or device. The guidewire is then removed, leaving the catheter in place.

Applications

The Seldinger technique is used in many clinical scenarios including the insertion of chest drains and central venous catheters, arterial line placement, and in interventional radiology procedures.

Risks

As with any medical procedure, there are risks associated with the Seldinger technique. These include infection, arterial puncture, hematoma, and pneumothorax. The risk of complications can be reduced by using ultrasound guidance.

See also

• Interventional radiology
• Catheter
• Central venous catheter
• Arterial line

References

Seldinger Resources
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