Umbilical artery catheter insertion is a common procedure used in intensive care of neonates. It is considered the standard of care for arterial access in neonates. The umbilical artery can be used for arterial access during the first 5-7 days of life [rarely beyond 7-10 days.] It allows direct access to the arterial blood supply […]
Procedures
Seldinger Technique – Procedure and Uses
The Seldinger technique is the most common method used for the insertion of a central intravenous (IV) line. Central venous catheters or lines are placed in the following locations: Internal jugular vein Subclavian vein Femoral vein The peripheral vein in PICC Seldinger technique, however, is not restricted to central venous line placement. It is also […]
Intraossoeus Vascular Access – Indications, Sites and Procedure
Intraosseous vascular access is the use of intraosseous needle placement to access the venous circulation via venous sinusoids in the bone. Intraosseous access was first introduced by Drinker in 1922. After IV catheters were discovered, this method was abandoned until the 1980s, when it was reintroduced as a method of fast resuscitation. Earlier, the intraosseous […]
Central Venous Catheter – Types, Uses and Complications
A central venous catheter or central venous line is a temporary catheter placed into a large vein, with an intention to keep it for the required period and administer drugs, blood products, and other fluids and as well as to draw blood for investigation. Insertion of a central venous catheter in a human was first […]
Venous Cutdown – Indications and Procedure
The venous cutdown is a procedure where a vein is surgically exposed to establish a vascular access by inserting a cannula or catheter. It is mostly done in an emergency when there is no peripheral vein is available for putting a cannula for vascular access or in cases of trauma and hypovolemic shock patients when […]
Alpha fetoprotein – Structure Function and Uses
Alpha fetoprotein is a plasma glycoprotein found in humans. It is the most abundant plasma protein synthesized by the human fetus. It is produced mainly by fetal liver and yolk sac during fetal development. Although synthesis drops markedly after birth, small amounts of alpha fetoprotein continue to be produced in the adult. Alpha fetoprotein levels in […]
Types of Biopsies and Their Applications
Biopsy is a procedure in which a sample of tissue/ cells is taken from the body, processed in a laboratory and then examined under a microscope. There are different types of biopsies which can be performed. The most common indication for a biopsy is to determine whether tissue or a tumor is malignant (cancerous) or […]
Biologic Skin Substitutes and Synthetic Skin Substitutes
Skin substitutes are wound coverage materials that aid in wound closure and replace the functions of the skin, either temporarily or permanently, depending on the product characteristics. Skin represents approximately 16% of the total body weight. Skin has main functions of protection of inner structures, important role in protein and vitamin D metabolism. Restoration of […]
Sterlization Methods and Their Use
Sterilization or sterilisation is the process that eliminates, removes, kills, or deactivates all forms of life and other biological agents such as fungi, bacteria, viruses, spore forms, prions, unicellular eukaryotic organisms such as Plasmodium present in a specified region, such as a surface, a volume of fluid, medication, or in a compound such as biological culture media. Sterilization has a very important role in making and keeping medical devices, implants, […]
What is Flap Surgery and Its Types
Flap surgery is a type of plastic and reconstructive surgery which involved flap, a unit of tissue] transfer from one site (donor site) to another (recipient site) while maintaining its own blood supply. A graft is a transfer of tissue without its own blood supply. This feature differentiates the two terms. Thus the graft survival depends […]