What is an arterial line primarily used for?

• A. Monitoring intracranial pressure
• B. Administering IV fluids for nutrition
• C. Delivering air to the lungs
• D. Continuous BP monitoring and blood sampling

Answer: (D)

An arterial line is used for continuous, beat-to-beat arterial blood pressure monitoring and to obtain arterial blood samples for labs such as ABGs without repeated needle sticks. This real-time pressure data is crucial in unstable patients, during surgery, or in the ICU to guide treatment and vasopressor titration. It’s placed in an artery and connected to a transducer for continuous display. It is not used to deliver nutrition or IV fluids through the artery, nor to provide ventilation, and it does not monitor intracranial pressure (which uses separate ICP monitoring devices).