Ultrasound-Guided Vascular Access: In-Plane Approach

The transducer is held stationary with the non-dominant hand while advancing the needle using the dominant hand.

The in-plane or long access approach is the technique used to allow visualization of the entire needle when performing ultrasound-guided vascular access.

The transducer is positioned in a long axis over the selected vein.  The vessel is visualized straight across the screen.  The needle is placed at the center of the transducer in-line with the ultrasound beam and the trajectory of the vessel with the bevel up.

To learn more about ultrasound-guided procedures, check out ultrasound-guided training courses from Gulfcoast Ultrasound Institute.

References:
Figure 2: Adapted from Chapter 19, Emergency Ultrasound Ed. 2, James Mateer MD, editor”