Arterial catheters are similar to venous catheters except that they are placed in an artery instead of a vein. Placement of an arterial catheter in a critically ill patient can be very beneficial in that it provides a means of collecting arterial blood samples and monitoring blood pressure. In addition, these catheters can be used on patients with numerous conditions, including severe pneumonia, pulmonary contusions, physical trauma, or cervical disk disease.
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