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OMG, yes, we used to use butterflies for GBS prophylaxis when I worked at a birth center years and years ago. Definitely less than ideal. That little needle hurts when it is left in place, and it is way too easy to blow the vein.
Butterflies are much easier to start than angiocaths. But I have never seen them used for IV infusions in a hospital. That is kind of bizarre.
(I will admit though, I use butterflies for blood draws almost exclusively because it is so so much easier for me! Flashback for the win!)
I'm getting phlebitis just thinking about leaving a steel catheter in somebody's vein and then infusing fluids through it. Red Cross does this all the time with double red donations and I've seen more messed up arms after double reds than not = why I only donate one at a time. Keep the plasma, I'll keep my vasculature.
Don't let that dissuade you! I'm sure it's not 100% of the time with double red donations, but the process of donating two units at on a is different than donating one. In donating two (ie, "double red"), your blood and plasma are separated and the plasma is reinfused through the same catheter from which it was withdrawn. In my experience, this has led to more complications than your ordinary single unit donations.
These an be used for short term infusions and it is often the device of choice for home care patients. Many patients and their caregivers will use a traditional butterfly to gain vascular access to administer various factors,IVIG,Glassia and many other IV drugs that are self administered. As far as the hospital setting goes a much safer choice is a catheter over needle design. I would do exactly what you are doing: resite with a CON device and then taking out the steel butterfly. I also noticed that you mentioned they come wrapped with a Kerlix type roll...it is NOT standard practice to wrap a peripheral IV site with a roller type bandage because it impedes visualization of the site,does not allow for timely assessment and can impede circulation.
Agree buttterflys should not be used for infusion.
However, what are you gonna do? Of course you need to remove the tape and gauze to view the insertion site...another reason to just restart . Any chance of administration communicating with these facilities... and requesting the correct standard of care?
FineAgain
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Recently we have had an influx of transfers -- mostly from small outlying hospitals -- who arrive with a 24ga butterfly that is infusing fluids. We always have to restart them as it is against our policy. Butterflies are not meant to be used as an IV, unless I missed something?
I have also found that the patients complain of pain at the IV site. I also feel I should mention that the IVs are usually wrapped in half a mile of tape with gauze over it. Wondering if this is so I don't notice it is a butterfly??!!
Thoughts, comments?