[epiphany]

Any nurses who has seen CVL placements, please let me know if, in your experience, this procedures is very painful for the pt. I witnessed my first today -femoral site - and it seems to have caused her a lot of pain. I saw lidocaine given (that came with the kit). She was an MI pt. After the procedure she was given morphine, but not before.

I am not qualified to pass judgement, but I am asking any of you experienced nurses to tell me if what your pts' comfort levels have been, in your observations.

Thank you so much.

[suzanne4]

If they were using a femoral approach, what other problems was the patient having? With a central line in the femoral vein, they need to be on bedrest.
It isn't much different than putting in a long IV catheter. Sometimes it would be nice if versed or something like that is given. It also depends on the skill level of the provider that is inserting the catheter.

Hope that this helps..............

[Jailhouse RN]

A clavicular placement is more painful but that much more so. As stated above the skill level of the person placing the cath has a lot to do with it. A local is always given first. After that its the proding and pushing that are the most irritating (so I am told by my pts.).

[epiphany]

Thank you. I felt awful for how bad it was for the pt. Also, I neglected to say that this was performed first time by an intern, and even after a few unsuccessful tries, the instructor MD took over, and still kept missing the vein. They hit the artery many times.

[suzanne4]

Originally Posted by epiphany

Thank you. I felt awful for how bad it was for the pt. Also, I neglected to say that this was performed first time by an intern, and even after a few unsuccessful tries, the instructor MD took over, and still kept missing the vein. They hit the artery many times.

That is yuor problem right there, they definitely should have given some versed to the patient so that she would not remember this episode.

How awful for her.................

[RN4NICU]

Originally Posted by suzanne4

That is yuor problem right there, they definitely should have given some versed to the patient so that she would not remember this episode.

How awful for her.................

Versed is a good idea when giving interns their first crack at anything.

[dknunges]

Originally Posted by epiphany

Any nurses who has seen CVL placements, please let me know if, in your experience, this procedures is very painful for the pt. I witnessed my first today -femoral site - and it seems to have caused her a lot of pain. I saw lidocaine given (that came with the kit). She was an MI pt. After the procedure she was given morphine, but not before.

I am not qualified to pass judgement, but I am asking any of you experienced nurses to tell me if what your pts' comfort levels have been, in your observations.

Thank you so much.

Speaking from personnal experience when I had to have a CVL placed last year when I became critically ill, it was a little uncomfortable but not really painful.
I think the skill level of the clinician placing the line has a lot to due with it.
Donna