Before you buy a $300 Vein Finder

[chul_soo]

Hey guys, I did a review on $20 Flashlight vs. $300 vein finder. I've noticed that my LED Flashlight works as well as an expensive transilluminator. The flashlight is lacking in ecgonomics but that's no reason to pay that much extra. Anyone else feel like medical equipment is expensive for no good reason?

Here's what it looks like side by side.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Be careful, someone used a flashlight on an ambulance in my area and the infant ended up with second degree burns because there was no way for the heat to escape!! I would stick with a transiluminator!!

Medical équipement is expensive because it has to go through both expensive and rigorous testing per the FDA, someone has to pay for that!

Annie

[bgxyrnf, MSN, RN]

Be careful, someone used a flashlight on an ambulance in my area and the infant ended up with second degree burns because there was no way for the heat to escape!!

Yup, my first thought.

LED lights can heat up in a hurry. That said, on low power and with careful attention, they can work.

Recognize, though, that if there ends up a bad outcome, you will take a hard and rapid fall for using a non-approved device in a non-approved manner.

Not worth the risk in my book.

[chul_soo]

Be careful, someone used a flashlight on an ambulance in my area and the infant ended up with second degree burns because there was no way for the heat to escape!! I would stick with a transiluminator!!

Medical équipement is expensive because it has to go through both expensive and rigorous testing per the FDA, someone has to pay for that!

Annie

I have an LED Flashlight and doesn't get hot enough to burn babies. If you were to use an otoscope, that would be a big no no. Also older flashlights aren't quite bright enough unless you use a tactical flashlights and those get skin burning hot. At the end of the day, if I had a neonatal translumenator in front of me, I'd use that. My flashlight is normally used in a pinch. I could understand 10 years ago, the IV light was state of the art but it's 2017. i just feel that the IV light should've depreciated in value...

[RosesrReder, BSN, MSN, RN]

You would be surprised. I've seen a baby's skin burn with pulse ox light, so that is that. When it comes to living and working in such a litigious place, It's best to play it all the way safe.

[cgambino70]

They make one for 24.99 called Illumivein. I got one in nursing school when I worked as a medic in the ER. It helped but a few thousand IVs in and I don't use it anymore. We use ultrasound for the tough sticks.