How To Do Peripheral Vein Cannulation By Yiju Teresa Liu, MD, Harbor-UCLA Medical Center Reviewed / Revised Oct 2020 | Modified Sep 2022 View Patient Education Indications Contraindications Complications Equipment Additional Considerations Relevant Anatomy Positioning Step-by-Step Description of Procedure Warnings and Common Errors Aftercare Tips and Tricks Topic Resources How To Insert a Peripheral IV In peripheral vein cannulation, a plastic catheter (cannula) is inserted into a peripheral vein, typically using a catheter-over-needle device.