Cannula

A cannula (from Latin "little reed"; plural cannulae) or canula is a tube which can be inserted
into the body, often for the delivery or removal of fluid.
Decannulation is the permanent removal of a cannula (extubation),[1] especially of a
tracheostomy cannula.[2]

Medicine
Cannulae normally come with a trocar attached which allows puncturing of the body to get into
the intended space. There are however 11 different kinds of cannulae: Bias Grind, Vet Point,
Lancet Point, Deflected point (Anti-Coring), Pencil Point, Closed End Consistent Wall, Welded
"Ball" End, Bullet Point, Razor Edge, Probe Point (Blunt End), and Trocar.[3] Intravenous
cannulae are the most common in hospital use. A variety of cannulae are used to establish
cardiopulmonary bypass in cardiac surgery. Nasal cannula is a piece of plastic tubing which runs
under the nose and is used to administer oxygen.

IV cannulation
A venous cannula is inserted into a vein, primarily for the administration of intravenous fluids
and medicines. An arterial cannula is inserted into an artery, commonly the radial artery, and is
used during major operations and in critical care areas to measure beat-to-beat blood pressure
and to draw repeated blood samples.
Complications may arise in the vein as a result of the cannulation procedure, the 4 main groups
of complication are:

hematoma: a collection of blood, which can result from failure to puncture the vein when
the cannula is inserted or when the cannula is removed. Selection of an appropriate vein
and gently applying pressure slightly above the insertion point on removal of the cannula
may prevent this.
infiltration: when infusate enters the subcutaneous tissue instead of the vein. To prevent
this a cannula with accurate trim distances may be used. It is essential to fix the cannula
in place firmly.

embolism: this can be caused by air, a thrombus, or fragment of a catheter breaking off
and entering the venous system. Such things can go on to lodge in an artery, blocking
circulation to the corresponding area. Air emboli can be avoided making sure that there is
no air in the system. A thromboembolism can be avoided by using a smaller cannula.

phlebitis and: an inflammation of the vein resulting from mechanical or chemical

irritation or from an infection. Phlebitis can be avoided by carefully choosing the site for
cannulation by checking the type of infusate used.

[edit] Veterinary use

A cannula is also used in an emergency procedure to relieve pressure and bloating in cattle due
most commonly to their accidentally grazing wilted legume or legume-dominant pastures,
particularly alfalfa, ladino, and red and white clover.[4]
They are also a component used in the insertion of the Verichip.

[edit] Body piercing

Cannulae are used in body piercing when using a standard IV needle (usually between 18GA and
12GA, although may be as large as 0GA, in which case the procedure is known as dermal
punching and uses a biopsy punch without a cannula), and for inserting hooks for suspensions.
During piercing, the fistula is created by inserting the needle. The needle is then removed,
leaving the cannula in place, which is sometimes trimmed down. The cannula is then removed
and sterile jewellery is inserted into the fistula simultaneously, in order to minimise trauma to the
fresh fistula caused by insertion of blunt-ended jewellery.

[edit] Non-medical use

Septa seal the two conical flasks. A cannula is used to transfer THF from the flask on the right to
the flask on the left.
Cannulae are used in laboratory chemistry to transfer a liquid between flasks without exposing it
to the atmosphere. In this case, the cannula can be thought of as a double-ended needle, made of
stainless steel or plastic. Larger bores (16-22 gauge) are usually used[5] to avoid clogging. The
sharp ends allow them to penetrate septa easily.

Simple liquid chemical transfer

In biological research, a push-pull cannula, which both withdraws and injects fluid, can be used
to determine the effect of a certain chemical on a specific cell. The push part of the cannula is
filled with a physiological solution plus the chemical of interest and is then injected slowly into
the local cellular environment of a cell. The pull cannula then draws liquid from the extracellular
medium, thus measuring the cellular response to the chemical of interest. This technique is
especially used for neuroscience.
In general aviation, a cannula refers to a piece of plastic tubing which runs under the nose and is
used to administer oxygen in non-pressurized aircraft flying above 10,000 feet above sea level in
Canada and above 12,500 feet above sea level in the United States.

[edit] See also

Hypodermic needle

[edit] References
1. ^ Children with Tracheostomies Resource Guide, by Marilyn K. Kertoy, page 15 (Google
book search)
2. ^ Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary
3. ^ Vita Needle
4. ^ Diseases of the Ruminant Forestomach : Bloat, Merck Veterinary Manual
5. ^ Rob Toreki (2004-12-01). "Cannulas". The Glassware Gallery. Interactive Learning
Paradigms Incorporated.

[edit] Gallery

Cannula: intra-bleed Cannula: extra-bleed Cannula: (Simple) no

valve
valve
bleed valve

Cannula: two manifold

system

Cannula: syringe
valve
Air-sensitive cannulas:
1: Pressure in (gas in) 2: Pressure out (oil bubbler orange) 3: Higher flask with transfer liquid
(yellow) to transfer 4: Lower receiving flask/transferred liquid (yellow)
5: Liquid transfer cannula 6: Septum (orange) on transfer flask 7: Septum (orange) on receiving
flask 8: Pressure-control regulator/stopcock
9: Tubing/ gas-line (not shown for clarity, arrows show connectivity) 10: Gas cannula 11: 2-way
syringe stopcock 12: Gas-tight syringe
13: Gas/pressure removed from flask 3 14: Gas/pressure added to flask 4
O = Open stopcock; X = Closed stopcock; black-arrow = Gas flow direction, orange arrow =
Liquid flow direction