Radial artery puncture is a medical procedure that is performed in order to obtain arterial blood sampling for gas analysis. A needle is inserted into the radial artery and spontaneously fills with blood. The syringe that is used is prepacked and contains a small amount of heparin, to prevent coagulation or needs to be heparinised, by drawing up a small amount of heparin and squirting it out again. Most commonly radial artery puncture is performed in order to obtain arterial blood sampling for gas analysis. The partial pressures of oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2) and the pH of arterial blood are important in assessing pulmonary function, since these data indicate the status of gas exchange between the lungs and the blood.
Read more about Radial Artery Puncture: Contraindications, Anatomical Review
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