Palpation Versus Ultrasound in Femoral Artery Catheterization: Figure Error Notification
Dear Editors:
We read with interest the meta-analysis by Sobolev et al (J Invasive Cardiology 2015;27[7]:318-323) on ultrasound-guided catheterization of the femoral artery. The meta-analysis was well conducted, includes the relevant studies in this area, and affirms our findings from the FAUST trial that ultrasound guidance is associated with reduced femoral artery complications, reduced venipunctures, and improved first-pass success rates.
While otherwise an excellent analysis that summarizes the evidence to date, the study had several errors in the figures. Figure 2 as drawn appears to indicate that the risk of complications favors palpation rather than ultrasound. Similarly, Figure 4 suggests that the risk of venipuncture is higher with ultrasound than with palpation. Both of these are clearly errors that are discrepant from the text and from the included studies, but the JIC would be remiss if the errors were not corrected.
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Dear Drs Abu-Fadel and Seto:
Thank you for your interest in our manuscript and for identifying the labeling errors in the published figures.
The figures have been corrected accordingly.
Sincerely,
Maria Sobolev, MD
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Erratum
The July 2015 issue of the Journal contained two mislabeled figures in “Ultrasound-Guided Catheterization of the Femoral Artery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials” by Sobolev et al. Figure 2 was erroneously labeled to indicate that complication rate favored the use of palpation, but should have been labeled to favor ultrasound. In addition, Figure 4 was erroneously labeled to indicate that the risk of venipuncture was higher with ultrasound, but should have been labeled to indicate that the risk of venipuncture was higher with palpation. The editors regret the errors. Figures amended online September 1, 2015.
Sobolev M, Slovut DP, Chang AL, Shiloh AL, Eisen LA. Ultrasound-Guided Catheterization of the Femoral Artery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials. J INVASIVE CARDIOL 2015;27(7):318-323.
