Any tips for "spasmy" veins? Also, PIVs on chemo pts?

Specialties Infusion

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I've had sticks where I get zero return, even though I KNOW I'm in the vein, and sure enough, a few seconds after I finally withdraw, it'll start bleeding like I was IN the vein. (GAH!!) Any tips to prevent this so the pt doesn't feel like a pincushion?

Also, any tips for pts on chemo? I do a PIV for fluids and antiemetics 3x/wk on one pt (has a port for chemo), and his poor veins are getting tough as he undergoes his chemo. He has great veins, but they're VERY finicky now, and there's basically ONE spot where we end up going that always works, but it's getting sensitive of course, so I'd love to go elsewhere.

Specializes in Gas, ICU, ACLS, PALS, BLS.

veins don't spasm and can't spasm b/c they don't have a muscular layer, arteries spasm b/c they do have a muscular layer

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veins don't spasm and can't spasm b/c they don't have a muscular layer, arteries spasm b/c they do have a muscular layer

Not true. Veins do have a layer of smooth muscle. Granted, it is thinner than that of arteries, but they do have it.

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The chemo center can't give him fluids before he is connected to chemo?

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
Is there any reason the port can't be left accessed, other than that he doesn't like it? If he's going in to the cancer center three times weekly, then he could just have the needle changed weekly and only have to be poked once per week.

He's only at the cancer center once every two weeks, and he flies to Illinois for his cancer treatments.

He won't leave the port access in. He doesn't like it, and I'm guessing it makes it hard for him to work (he's a mechanic). When we met, I removed the one that was in, and by his reaction, I haven't pushed having one and leaving it in. Also, the cancer center doesn't want other nurses playing with it.

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Specializes in L&D, infusion, urology.
The chemo center can't give him fluids before he is connected to chemo?

I was infusing him 3x/week. He receives chemo 2x/month.

Right now, he's trying to push oral fluids to avoid the IV fluids.

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Specializes in Gas, ICU, ACLS, PALS, BLS.
Not true. Veins do have a layer of smooth muscle. Granted, it is thinner than that of arteries, but they do have it.

MUCH thinner and pretty much insignificant compared to arteries, my point was that veins don't spasm

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Specializes in L&D, NICU, PICU, School, Home care.

Where has this video been for the last 42 years. We use 18 gauge 1 1/2 inch and valves are a HUGE problem. Thank you so much for sharing and I'm sure my next patient will also.

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MUCH thinner and pretty much insignificant compared to arteries, my point was that veins don't spasm

Venous spasm is a fairly well documented phenomenon....

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