Butterfly catheters

Nurses General Nursing

Published

Hi,

Does anyone know if there is a step-by-step guide, or a video, on how to insert a butterfly intravenous catheter? I think the butterfly catheters lay on the skin flatter and better than the regular catheters, and seem to be easier to insert.

Thanks in advance

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

Are you wanting to insert one as a regular IV long term peripheral cannula (ie up to 72 hours?). Or are you just wanting to use it for venipuncture?

I hope it is not for the former. Imagine the damage to the veins and tissues. I have seen one left in as a subcutaneous catheter. I have seen the damage done in that region. Please don't use it for that purpose...

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What are you talking about?

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Specializes in Cardiac, ER.

what nyapa is "talking about" is that a "butterfly" is not used as long term IV access. It is designed to be used to draw blood,.perhaps a quick push and then should be removed. It should never be placed as IV access and actually left in for any amount of time. I've seen clinics use these to give a very quick antibiotic but that is as long as it should be left in,..after all it isn't a "catheter" it is a needle!

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.

there is a "butterfly" type angiocath.

it is shorter than a traditional angiocath, and looks quite a bit like a butterfly used for lab draws.

they used to be easier to insert, esp for hand veins (yes, because of the shallow approach).

now, with the "safety" design, they are a pain in the rear.

i don't know of a video, but the website has a handout.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.

here is a picture:

saftintima.jpg

and i take it back; apparently, there is a video: http://www.bd.com/videos/infusion/saf-t-intima.ram

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what nyapa is "talking about" is that a "butterfly" is not used as long term IV access. It is designed to be used to draw blood,.perhaps a quick push and then should be removed. It should never be placed as IV access and actually left in for any amount of time. I've seen clinics use these to give a very quick antibiotic but that is as long as it should be left in,..after all it isn't a "catheter" it is a needle!

Old timer having a chuckle here. In the olden days, metal needles were all we had and we did leave them inserted. :nuke: They were a lot easier to work with than today's plastic (bendable) catheters.

For OP: You might want to check with the library at a school of Nursing in your area. Or talk with some blood drawers at your local hospitals.

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here is a picture:

saftintima.jpg

and i take it back; apparently, there is a video: http://www.bd.com/videos/infusion/saf-t-intima.ram

it's interesting that this item has a metal stylet that has to be removed. i don't recall the original butterfly having a stylet. that's what made it so nice to work with. no stylet to have to remove. it's been a very long time since i have had anything to do with iv's, though, and i don't have that clear a recollection.

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Specializes in ER, ICU, Infusion, peds, informatics.
it's interesting that this item has a metal stylet that has to be removed. i don't recall the original butterfly having a stylet. that's what made it so nice to work with. no stylet to have to remove. it's been a very long time since i have had anything to do with iv's, though, and i don't have that clear a recollection.

the "stylet" is part of the safety design, and is a large part of what makes the thing a pain in the rear to use now.

the old ones still had a needle (otherwise, how to puncture skin, right?); the stylet has replaced the needle.

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CritterLover,

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU! This is exactly what I was looking for.

:yeah:

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Specializes in CRNA.
Hi,

Does anyone know if there is a step-by-step guide, or a video, on how to insert a butterfly intravenous catheter? I think the butterfly catheters lay on the skin flatter and better than the regular catheters, and seem to be easier to insert.

Thanks in advance

Do those "butterflies" come in a size 14?

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Specializes in ORTHOPAEDICS-CERTIFIED SINCE 89.

We used to use buttterflies on all IV sticks. Peds called them scalp vein needles. And yes it was a steel needle, wings on the proximal end and a tail of tubing with a luer connector. Easy as pie to get in and they lasted from 2 minutes to two days depending on how still the patient was.

I found some nice pictures on this site from CHINA not that I recommend them, but the wings are shown along with the stylet that provides the skin and vein puncture. The stylett is then removed and the soft cathether remains. Read your rules and procedure books for how to tape the wings down as that is their purpose.http://hlmed.en.alibaba.com/product/50358253/51649073/I_V_Catheters/IV_Catheters_and_Accessories.html

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