Smaller Arteries May Reduce A Woman's Likelihood For Successful Catheterization

A new study shows that smaller arterial size in women may account for the reduced likelihood of successful catheterization. Over a four-month period, researchers from New York recorded the age, body mass index (BMI), and gender of 40 patients requiring arterial catheters. Radial and femoral arteries were measured, and the association between their size and patient characteristics was assessed. Researchers concluded that, even after adjusted for age and BMI, the diameters for both radial and femoral arteries were significantly smaller in women than in men, possibly causing unsuccessful catheterizations in critically ill women.







CHEST 2006 abstract briefs



Contact: Jennifer Stawarz


American College of Chest Physicians