Venous cutdown is an emergency procedure in which the vein is exposed surgically and then a cannula is inserted into the vein under direct vision. It is used for venous access in cases of trauma, and hypovolemic shock when the use of a peripheral venous catheter is either difficult or impossible.
Venous decompression is an emergency procedure in which the vein is exposed surgically and a cannula is inserted into the vein under direct vision. It's used for venous access in cases of trauma, and hypovolemic shock when using a peripheral venous catheter is difficult or impossible.