[optimal] Re: When to remove needle
- From: Dennis West <dwestcra@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: "optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <optimal@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Thu, 9 Jun 2011 10:27:39 -0400
Richard,
For 30 years I've l kept the needle in place for first two minutes of the FA.
This for two reasons.
1. As you have talked about it is distraction to the patient to remove the
thing as the dye if just starting to flow into the eye.
2. More importantly, the need to have an open line for emergency. I have had
EMT's use my "metal needle butterfly" before especially for the patients with
very small veins.
Why would you remove the thing after struggling with a difficult stick only to
find out after you remove it that you need an open line.
Dennis M. West, CRA
Sent from my iPhone
On Jun 9, 2011, at 10:13 AM, Richard Morrone <rmorrone@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> Hello all,
>
> After decades of performing FA's I have recently received resistance from
> nursing at one facility regarding my request that the nurse not remove the
> butterfly during the first minute or two so as not to distract the patient
> during the rapid sequence of flashes in an FA.
>
> I have had patients look down at the arm or be startled or even say "ouch!"
> when the needle is pulled. Nursing does not believe that that would occur.
>
> They seemed concerned about the metal needle of our 23g butterfly being left
> in, and they want to remove the needle immediately after injecting. They
> said that to do otherwise would put the patient at risk. So much for getting
> the A-V phase with all of that activity occurring.
>
> I could suggest the use of angiocaths (with the soft plastic needle/sleeve)
> to address the metal needle concern, but they do cost more.
>
> Does anyone have a sample protocol that mentions when the "needle" is
> removed? Or... can you just describe your procedure?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Richard Morrone, C.R.A.
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