RT Book, Section A1 Reichman, Eric F. SR Print(0) ID 57705568 T1 Chapter 54. Peripheral Venous Cutdown T2 Emergency Medicine Procedures, 2e YR 2013 FD 2013 PB The McGraw-Hill Companies PP New York, NY SN 978-0-07-161352-1 LK accessemergencymedicine.mhmedical.com/content.aspx?aid=57705568 RD 2024/10/04 AB Venous access in the critically ill patient is of the utmost importance. The literature regarding peripheral venous cutdowns extends back to 1940 when Keeley introduced this technique as an alternative to venipuncture in patients with shock.1 Interestingly, there has been a noticeable lack of recent investigations regarding venous cutdowns, most likely due to the focus on central venous access via the Seldinger technique with ultrasound guidance and intraosseous access. Recent editions of the ATLS text refer to the saphenous venous cutdown as an optional skill to be taught at the discretion of the instructor.2 However, despite the apparent lack of popularity of the peripheral venous cutdown, the importance of obtaining venous access in critically ill patients supports the need to know a wide variety of techniques in order to be successful in every situation. The steps outlined in 1940 by Keeley to expose and cannulate the saphenous vein remain mostly unchanged.1