Cath UA on a preemie

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We don't keep real sick kiddos at my hosptial, most get shipped. We just had a set of discorndinant (?sp) twins, twin A 6+ lbs, Twin B 3+ lbs. Anyway, doing good enuf for us to keep.

Twin B had a gray spell on us - had just had a bili drawn and was about to put her back in the isolette and looked like ****. MD wanted IV, cxr, labs, etc.. including a cath UA while she was on her way in. Our cath kit was too big for her little urethra and we ended up using an 8fr feeding tube (and a the head gear from ER with the magnafier and light they use to check for corneal abraions).

Question: What else can be used for a cath UA when they are soooo tiny? Any other suggestions?

BTW, got the IV in first try - not bad for one of those lucky L&D nurses that only have to put IVs in healthy in young women.:lol2:

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Do you have umbilical line kits? We use those for catheter samples as they go down to a 3.5 Fr.

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Or a 5Fr feeding tube if you have them.

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Specializes in ER, NICU, NSY and some other stuff.

My preference would be a 5 fr feeding tube. I find the 5 fr cath kits way too flexible and the bend too much. The feeding tubes are also soft but slight less flexible.

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Specializes in NICU.

Your hospital can get 5fr minicath kits, they are like the femcaths used for adults, with a little vial on the end for the urine. They are firmer and are safer to use than feeding tubes. We had a problem several years ago when a 5fr feeding tube got into a knot inside the baby, and a urologist had to remove it. After that episode, we got the kits. When I'm back at work, I'll get the info for you.

The kit also come in an 8fr for older or bigger babies.

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Specializes in NICU.
Your hospital can get 5fr minicath kits, they are like the femcaths used for adults, with a little vial on the end for the urine. They are firmer and are safer to use than feeding tubes. We had a problem several years ago when a 5fr feeding tube got into a knot inside the baby, and a urologist had to remove it. After that episode, we got the kits. When I'm back at work, I'll get the info for you.

The kit also come in an 8fr for older or bigger babies.

Those kits are great! They are a bit more stiff than the foley kits, and it's much much easier to get a good, clean cath. Plus with the vial being at the end, all you have to do is pull out the cath and close the nozzle and it's ready for the lab. We have them in 5 and 8 french and use them whenever we have to straight cath a baby for culture or bladder distention. We never do caths for U/As though - not worth the trauma, so we put a urine bag on them instead. We rarely use the 8 french kits though - even on a big kid, there's no reason to use a large cath just to get a quick sample.

For indwelling, we have 5 and 8 french foley kits. We'll use the 5's unless it's a term baby in PPHN, then we'll use an 8 french so there won't be as much leakage (less leakage = no need to stimulate sick baby for diaper changes). If the baby is under a kilo, we'll use a 3.5 french umbilical line and then use the collection tubing from another foley kit.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

I've used those before, they're great. I want to get them for my current unit. Can you get me the brand/product #, etc?? I'd really appreciate it!

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Specializes in NICU.
I've used those before, they're great. I want to get them for my current unit. Can you get me the brand/product #, etc?? I'd really appreciate it!

I work on Thursday night so I'll get the info then, unless anyone else can get it sooner.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Thanks!

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, educator.

We trialed those kits and like them...but $$$. I hate when budget constraints keep us from getting good stuff!

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Specializes in NICU.
I've used those before, they're great. I want to get them for my current unit. Can you get me the brand/product #, etc?? I'd really appreciate it!

I worked extra last night, so here's the info:

Medline Neonatal Speci-Cath Kit

The 5 Fr order number is DYND10820

I think the 8 Fr pediatric DYND 10815

If you Google "Medline", you'll find the company info.

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

Thank YOU! Now I can see about getting them for our unit!!!

:flowersfo

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