As little as 5 years ago, central line placement for inability to obtain peripheral venous access was commonplace. Patients would even have central lines placed solely for contrast administration for CT imaging, then have the lines pulled and be discharged home after completion of their workup! The modern era of ultrasound technology, as well as specially manufactured angiocatheters designed to be placed in deeper veins, has brought about a revolution in the management of the difficult venous access patient. It is now a rare occasion when a skilled emergency medicine practitioner cannot obtain access via ultrasound guidance, which has cut down tremendously on the time, cost, and complications inherent to central line placement.

In this video, Cooper Emergency Medicine Residency graduate and current ultrasound fellow at Hennepin County Mark Robidoux demonstrates a few tips and tricks to quickly become a pro in ultrasound guided angiocath insertion (with a little help from Cooper Assistant to the Program Director and volunteer pincushion Rich Byrne)