Criticare - A special feature on Anaesthesiology

Site~Rite- A unique Ultrasound Scanner for Vascular Access

Dr Piyush Raj

Site~Rite is a registered trademark for the Site~Rite ultrasound system and whenever Site~Rite is used it stands for the Site~Rite ultrasound system.

Site~Rite is the name for a unique series of small, battery-powered, user-friendly ultrasound scanners that are designed primarily to assist physicians in gaining access to major arteries and veins. It features a patented needle guide for accurate ultrasound-guided needle placement. The Site~Rite ultrasound system is small and portable, and thus easy to use at the bedside and in a variety of clinical scenarios: angiography suites, operating rooms, intensive care units, catheterization laboratories, emergency rooms, patient’s bedsides etc.

The Site~Rite scanner offers high-resolution imaging to a depth of 4 cm and features 9.0 MHz and 7.5 MHz probes. Site~Rite is a new generation ultrasound scanner from BARD - that is microprocessor based and software driven. Site~Rite is positioned to be an adjunct to a procedure of which the primary focus is vascular access. The features on Site~Rite were selected to meet the needs of vascular access only and not those of diagnostic procedures.

For our purposes, we define vascular access as inserting a needle into a vein or artery in preparation for placing a catheter or sheath within the vessel in order to obtain access to the central circulatory system.

There are four broad application categories for Site~Rite

A. Vascular access

1. Catheter placement – temporary or long term

• Central (internal jugular and subclavian vein, femoral vein and artery) n Peripheral (basilic vein, radial artery, brachial artery, cephalic vein)

2. Procedures that require access to the vascular system

• Permanent pacemaker and defibrillator insertion (subclavian vein) n Hemodynamic measurements (internal jugular vein) n Myocardial biopsies (internal jugular vein)
• Cardiac ablations (femoral vein, internal jugular vein or subclavian vein) n Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt placement (TIPS) (internal jugular vein) n Filter placements (femoral vein, internal jugular vein) n Lysing of clots in the femoral vein (popliteal vein)

Vascular imaging for procedures other than vascular access

• Epiaortic scanning n Saphenous vein mapping
• Scanning of fistulas/grafts used for hemodialysis
• Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) studies

Non-vascular, invasive procedures performed within first 4 cm of tissue

• Nerve blocks
• Tapping pleural and peritoneal effusions
• Thyroid biopsies
• Pediatric bladder taps

Site~Rite versus Landmarks for Vascular Access

Site~Rite enables the physician to visualize a vein or an artery and to confidently place the needle into the vessel, often on the first attempt. Site~Rite literally puts eyes at the tips of the physician’s fingers.

Site~Rite does not replace the physician’s skills. Rather Site~Rite enhances them and enables physicians to be more efficient because they can now see what they are puncturing. With ultrasound guidance a blindfold has been lifted.

In today’s world of managed care and capitation, physicians and administrators want to improve efficiency, reduce complications, and contain costs. Site~Rite directly addresses these issues.

With Site~Rite the physician knows in advance where the vessel lies and in the case of a vein, whether it is patent. If the vein is thrombosed or of an unusually small diameter, the physician can choose another site without wasting time trying to access an inaccessible site.

Uniqueness of Site~Rite

Site~Rite was designed specifically for vascular access.

Site~Rite is very easy to operate. It has few controls which gives it a very user-friendly and non-intimidating front panel.

Site~Rite offers a patented needle guidance system that accurately directs the needle into the vessel.

Site~Rite is small, mobile, and provides high image quality at a low cost.

For Details contact:
Bard Access Systems
Email-Piyush.Raj@crbard.com