Procedure Guides

Step-by-step Photo Guides

Central line placement. See also Central line placement with ultrasound guidance.
Thoracentesis (pleural tap)
Paracentesis (ascites tap)
Arthrocentesis (joint tap)

NEJM Videos in Clinical Medicine

These are high-quality professional videos but they require a subscription to NEJM:
Central Venous Catheterization - IJ vein
Central Venous Catheterization - Subclavian Vein
Placement of a Femoral Venous Catheter
Central Line
Arterial Line
Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation
Nasogastric Intubation
Thoracentesis
Paracentesis
Male Urethral Catheterization
Female Urethral Catheterization
Pelvic Examination
Arthrocentesis of the Knee
Lumbar Puncture
Basic Laceration Repair
Ophthalmoscopy
Bone Marrow Aspiration and Biopsy

FREE RESOURCES

Northwestern University

A comprehensive procedure teaching website covering essential procedures like central lines, thoracostomy, and intubation. You can watch them as PowerPoint slides or as streaming videos. There are sections about suturing and ACLS.

eMedicine Clinical Procedures

eMedicine offers some very-well illustrated guides:
Lumbar Puncture
Paracentesis
Urethral Catheterization - Men
Suprapubic Catheterization and Aspiration

University of California, San Francisco

The Hospitalist Handbook is a classic guide which is also available in a PDA format. There is a concise procedures section.

Loyola University Chicago

Thoracentesis video from the Loyola University Chicago.

State University of New York at Buffalo -- Procedures

Dalhousie University

Common Currency Videos by the Dalhousie University teach procedure skills like peripheral venous access, ABG sampling, phlebotomy, and urinary catheterization.

University of Alberta and WebMedTechnology

Online educational videos: Central Line, Chest Tube, Lumbar Puncture, Transcutaneous Pacemaker, PICC Line and Epistaxis.

University of British Columbia

UBC has an ACLS lecture as a QuickTime movie (may be outdated). Many of UBC medical rounds can be watched online. SkillStat also has an ACLS training module.

Further reading

Lightning Strikes Twice. Scalpel or Sword? 11/2007.

Published: 03/12/2005
Updated: 09/22/2009