Distal radial approach (DRA) may be a safe option for insertion of a new A-line in the ICU. The study included 20 patients with a median age of 70 (interquartile range (IQR): 58.5–77) years: 10 patients with traumas, 6 with cerebral hemorrhages, 2 with gastrointestinal perforations, and 2 with other diagnoses.

The number of punctures was 1 in 15 patients, 2 in 4 patients, and 3 in 1 patient. Only 1 patient required ultrasound guidance, whereas 12 patients required the use of guidewires. The median duration after insertion was 3 (IQR 2.5–5.5) days.

Accidental removal was noted in only one patient. No other complications were observed during the period from insertion to removal.

This retrospective, descriptive, and observational study enrolled patients who underwent A-line insertion using the DRA at the authors’ facility, which is a university hospital with approximately 1100 beds, from January 1, 2019 to August 31, 2019.

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