Swedish Agency for Health Technology Assessment and Assessment of Social Services
Allen test for assessment of blood circulation in the hand before insertion of an arterial catheter
Patients with impaired blood circulation in the hand is assumed to have greater risk of complications due to insertion of an arterial catheter. Allen test is one of several methods that can be used to identify these people.
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Question
What scientific studies are there on Allen test or other similar tests and their capability to predict complications after insertion of an arterial catheter?
Identified literature
One relevant systematic review was identified but was assessed to have high risk for bias. Two relevant primary studies were identified [1,2]. The primary studies were not assessed for risk of bias.
References
- Jirous S, Bernat I, Slezak D, Miklik R, Rokyta R. Post-procedural radial artery occlusion and patency detection using duplex ultrasound vs. the reverse Barbeau test. Eur Heart J Suppl 2020;22:F23-f29.
- Maniotis C, Koutouzis M, Andreou C, Lazaris E, Tsiafoutis I, Zografos T, et al. Transradial Approach for Cardiac Catheterization in Patients With Negative Allen's Test. J Invasive Cardiol 2015;27:416-20.
Literature search
PubMed via NLM 210125
Allen test for assessment of blood circulation in the hand before insertion of an arterial catheter
| The search result, usually found at the end of the documentation, forms the list of abstracts. [MeSH] = Term from the Medline controlled vocabulary, including terms found below this term in the MeSH hierarchy; [MeSH:NoExp] = Does not include terms found below this term in the MeSH hierarchy; [MAJR] = MeSH Major Topic; [TIAB] = Title or abstract; [TI] = Title; [AU] = Author; [TW] = Text Word; Systematic[SB] = Filter for retrieving systematic reviews; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase |
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| Search terms | Items found | |
|---|---|---|
| Population: | ||
| 1. | (cannulation OR cannulations OR catheter[tiab] OR "Catheterization, Peripheral"[Mesh] OR “Peripheral Catheterization” OR “Peripheral Catheterizations” OR “PICC” OR “Peripheral Arterial Catheterization”) AND (hand[mesh] OR hand[tiab] OR forearm[tiab]) | 4725 |
| 2. | ("critical care"[MeSH Terms] OR "Intensive Care Units"[Mesh] OR "Emergency Service, Hospital"[Mesh] OR “critical care”[tiab] OR "Intensive Care”[tiab] OR Emergency[tiab]) | 512749 |
| Intervention: | ||
| 3. | "allen test" or "allen's test" OR "Ultrasonography, Doppler"[Mesh] OR doppler[tiab] OR “Pulse oximetry”[tiab] OR "Barbeau test" | 144889 |
| 4. | (("Collateral Circulation"[Mesh] OR "Collateral Circulation"[tiab] OR “collateral blood supply”[tiab] OR “collateral blood circulation”[tiab] ) AND (hand[mesh] OR hand[tiab] OR forearm[tiab])) OR "Hand/blood supply"[Mesh] OR "Radius/blood supply"[Mesh] OR "Ulna/blood supply"[Mesh] OR "Radial Artery"[Mesh] OR "Radial Artery"[tiab] | 18584 |
| 5. | "allen test" or "allen's test" OR "Barbeau test" | 402 |
| Outcome: | ||
| 6. | (((Hand[tiab] OR "Hand"[Mesh]) AND (ischemia[tiab] OR "Ischemia"[Mesh] OR “ischaemic damage”[tiab])) OR Thrombosis[tiab] OR "Thrombosis"[Mesh] OR “blood clot”[tiab] OR “blood clots”[tiab] OR Embolism[tiab] OR "Embolism"[Mesh] OR “Radial artery thrombus”[tiab] OR “Digital embolization”[tiab] OR complications[tiab] OR complication[tiab]) | 1248610 |
| Study type: | ||
| 7. | Systematic[sb] OR "Meta-Analysis as Topic"[Mesh] OR "Systematic Reviews as Topic"[Mesh] OR systematic review[pt] | 203261 |
| Combined sets: | ||
| 8. | 1 AND 3 | 348 |
| 9. | 1 AND 4 | 730 |
| 10. | 2 AND 3 AND 7 | 55 |
| 11. | 3 AND 6 AND 7 | 167 |
| 12. | 5 OR 8 OR 9 OR 10 OR 11 | 1122 |
| Final | 12 | 1122 |
Embase via embase.com 210125
Allen test for assessment of blood circulation in the hand before insertion of an arterial catheter
| The search result, usually found at the end of the documentation, forms the list of abstracts. /de = Term from the EMTREE controlled vocabulary; /exp = Includes terms found below this term in the EMTREE hierarchy; /mj = Major Topic; :ab = Abstract; :au = Author; :ti = Article Title; :ti,ab = Title or abstract; * = Truncation; ’ ’ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase |
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| Search terms | Items found | |
|---|---|---|
| Population: | ||
| 1. | (cannulation OR cannulations OR catheter:ti,ab OR 'cannulation'/exp OR “Peripheral Catheterization” OR “Peripheral Catheterizations” OR “PICC” OR “Peripheral Arterial Catheterization”) AND ('hand'/exp OR hand:ti,ab OR forearm:ti,ab) | 6083 |
| 2. | ('intensive care'/exp OR 'intensive care unit'/exp OR 'hospital emergency service'/exp OR “critical care”:ti,ab OR "Intensive Care”:ti,ab OR Emergency:ti,ab) | 1254485 |
| Intervention: | ||
| 3. | "allen test" or "allens test" OR 'Doppler ultrasonography'/exp OR doppler:ti,ab OR “Pulse oximetry”:ti,ab OR "Barbeau test" | 193032 |
| 4. | (('collateral circulation'/exp OR "Collateral Circulation":ti,ab OR “collateral blood supply”:ti,ab OR “collateral blood circulation”:ti,ab ) AND ('hand'/exp OR hand:ti,ab OR forearm:ti,ab)) OR 'forearm blood flow'/exp OR 'radial artery'/exp OR "Radial Artery":ti,ab | 19231 |
| 5. | "allen test" or "allens test" OR "Barbeau test" | 401 |
| Outcome: | ||
| 6. | (((Hand:ti,ab OR 'hand'/exp) AND (ischemia:ti,ab OR 'ischemia'/exp OR “ischaemic damage”:ti,ab)) OR Thrombosis:ti,ab OR 'thrombosis'/exp OR “blood clot”:ti,ab OR “blood clots”:ti,ab OR Embolism:ti,ab OR 'embolism'/exp OR “Radial artery thrombus”:ti,ab OR “Digital embolization”:ti,ab OR complications:ti,ab OR complication:ti,ab) | 1248610 |
| Study type: | ||
| 7. | 'systematic review'/exp OR 'meta analysis'/exp OR 'Cochrane Library'/exp OR ((systematic* NEAR/3 review) or 'meta analy*' or metaanaly*):ab,ti,kw | 474191 |
| Combined sets: | ||
| 8. | 1 AND 3 | 394 |
| 9. | 1 AND 4 | 731 |
| 10. | 2 AND 3 AND 7 | 327 |
| 11. | 3 AND 6 AND 7 | 489 |
| 12. | 5 OR 8 OR 9 OR 10 OR 11 | |
| Final | 12 | 2039 |
Cochrane Library via Wiley 210125
Allen test for assessment of blood circulation in the hand before insertion of an arterial catheter
| The search result, usually found at the end of the documentation, forms the list of abstracts. au = Author; [mh…] = Term from the Medline controlled vocabulary, including terms found below this term in the MeSH hierarchy; this term only = Does not include terms found below this term in the MeSH hierarchy; :ti = Title; :ab = Abstract; :kw = Keyword; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase |
||
| Search terms | Items found | |
|---|---|---|
| Population: | ||
| 1. | (cannulation OR cannulations OR catheter:ti,ab OR [mh "Catheterization, Peripheral"] OR “Peripheral Catheterization” OR “Peripheral Catheterizations” OR “PICC” OR “Peripheral Arterial Catheterization”) AND ([mh hand] OR hand:ti,ab OR forearm:ti,ab) | 782 |
| 2. | ([mh "critical care"] OR [mh "Intensive Care Units"] OR [mh "Emergency Service, Hospital"] OR “critical care”:ti,ab OR "Intensive Care”:ti,ab OR Emergency:ti,ab) | 44430 |
| Intervention: | ||
| 3. | "allen test":ti,ab or "allen's test":ti,ab OR [mh "Ultrasonography, Doppler"] OR doppler:ti,ab OR “Pulse oximetry”:ti,ab OR "Barbeau test":ti,ab | 13002 |
| 4. | (([mh "Collateral Circulation"] OR "Collateral Circulation":ti,ab OR “collateral blood supply”:ti,ab OR “collateral blood circulation”:ti,ab ) AND ([mh "hand"] OR hand:ti,ab OR forearm:ti,ab)) OR [mh "Hand"/BS] OR [mh "Radius"/BS] OR [mh "Ulna"/BS] OR [mh "Radial Artery"] OR "Radial Artery":ti,ab | 2076 |
| 5. | "allen test":ti,ab or "allen's test":ti,ab OR "Barbeau test":ti,ab | 125 |
| Outcome: | ||
| 6. | (((Hand:ti,ab OR [mh "Hand"]) AND (ischemia:ti,ab OR [mh "Ischemia"] OR “ischaemic damage”:ti,ab)) OR Thrombosis:ti,ab OR [mh "Thrombosis"] OR “blood clot”:ti,ab OR “blood clots”:ti,ab OR Embolism:ti,ab OR [mh "Embolism"] OR “Radial artery thrombus”:ti,ab OR “Digital embolization”:ti,ab OR complications:ti,ab OR complication:ti,ab) | 109973 |
| Limits: | ||
| 7. | Cochrane reviews | |
| Combined sets: | ||
| 8. | 1 AND 3 | 61 |
| 9. | 1 AND 4 | 74 |
| 10. | 2 AND 3 AND 7 | 21 |
| 11. | 3 AND 6 AND 7 | 36 |
| 12. | 5 OR 8 OR 9 OR 10 OR 11 | 268 |
| Final | 12 | 268 |
Cinahl via ebsco 210125
Allen test for assessment of blood circulation in the hand before insertion of an arterial catheter
| The search result, usually found at the end of the documentation, forms the list of abstracts. AB = Abstract; AU = Author; MH = Term from the thesaurus; MM = Major Concept; TI = Title; TX = All Text. Performs a keyword search of all the database's searchable fields; ZC = Methodology Index; * = Truncation; “ “ = Citation Marks; searches for an exact phrase |
||
| Search terms | Items found | |
|---|---|---|
| Population: | ||
| 1. | (TI (cannulation OR cannulations OR catheter OR “Peripheral Catheterization” OR “Peripheral Catheterizations” OR “PICC” OR “Peripheral Arterial Catheterization”) OR AB (cannulation OR cannulations OR catheter OR “Peripheral Catheterization” OR “Peripheral Catheterizations” OR “PICC” OR “Peripheral Arterial Catheterization”) OR (MH "Catheterization, Peripheral+")) AND ((MH "Hand+") OR TI (hand OR forearm) OR AB (hand OR forearm)) | 949 |
| 2. | (MH "Critical Care+") OR (MH "Intensive Care Units+") OR (MH "Emergency Service+") OR TI (“critical care” OR "Intensive Care” OR Emergency) OR AB (“critical care” OR "Intensive Care” OR Emergency) | 269003 |
| Intervention: | ||
| 3. | TX "allen test" OR TX "allen's test" OR (MH "Ultrasonography, Doppler+") OR TI doppler OR AB doppler OR TI “Pulse oximetry” OR AB “Pulse oximetry” OR TX "Barbeau test" | 32300 |
| 4. | (((MH "Collateral Circulation") OR TI ("Collateral Circulation" OR “collateral blood supply” OR “collateral blood circulation”) OR AB ("Collateral Circulation" OR “collateral blood supply” OR “collateral blood circulation”)) AND ((MH "Hand+") OR TI (hand OR forearm) OR AB (hand OR forearm))) OR (MH "Hand/BS") OR (MH "Radius/BS") OR (MH "Ulna/BS") OR (MH "Radial Artery") OR TI "Radial Artery" OR AB "Radial Artery" | 2714 |
| 5. | TX "allen test" OR TX "allen's test" OR TX "Barbeau test" | 129 |
| Outcome: | ||
| 6. | (((MH "Hand+") OR TI (hand OR forearm) OR AB (hand OR forearm)) AND (TI (ischemia OR “ischaemic damage” OR Thrombosis OR “blood clot” OR “blood clots” OR Embolism OR “Radial artery thrombus” OR “Digital embolization” OR complications OR complication) OR AB (ischemia OR OR “ischaemic damage” OR Thrombosis OR “blood clot” OR “blood clots” OR Embolism OR “Radial artery thrombus” OR “Digital embolization” OR complications OR complication) OR (MH "Ischemia+") OR (MH "Thrombosis+") OR (MH "Embolism+"))) | 5858 |
| Study type: | ||
| 7. | (ZT "systematic review") OR (MH "systematic review") OR (TX "systematic review") | 218831 |
| Combined sets: | ||
| 8. | 1 AND 3 | 47 |
| 9. | 1 AND 4 | 89 |
| 10. | 2 AND 3 AND 7 | 42 |
| 11. | 3 AND 6 | 172 |
| 12. | 5 OR 8 OR 9 OR 10 OR 11 | 399 |
| Final | 12 | 399 |
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