The ultrasound-guided technique allows to puncture and cannulate deep veins of the upper limbs, for insertion of either short peripheral cannulas (<6 cm) or long peripheral cannulas (6-15 cm: the so-called' mini-midline).
The main difference between these two devices are in terms of duration (the life expectancy of an short cannula inserted by ultrasound guidance is 24-48 hours, while a mini-midline can remain in place even for three or four weeks), of materials (short cannulas are made of polytetrafluoroethylene - teflon - or polyurethane; mini-midlines are made of polyurethane, or polyethylene, or polyether –block-amide, PEBA) and costs (higher for mini-midline).