Numbing IV sites

zambezi, BSN, RN · May 20, 2005

I have never used this procedure, but I will as soon as I can go back to work! I recently had to have surgery...the nurse that put in my IV used lido..I did not even feel the IV insertion at all, it was fantastic...I did feel a little burning with the lido but not bad...she made me a believer and will start using lido when I go back to work....

suzanne4, RN · May 20, 2005

I prefer using lidocaine with 18G needles and larger. Having been on the receiving end as well, it makes all of the difference in the world. But of course, you must have an order for this, or a dept. protocol.

HoosierDeb · May 25, 2005

We have had some....discussions...with different depts in our hospital on how, or even to, numb the skin before starting a peripheral IV.
We use some bacteriostatic NS with an insulin needle to make a little bubble, and then do the veinipuncture through that. Some also use an 18 ga metal needle to lance the skin as well.
Some others say it's a waste of time, two or three needle sticks instead of one, etc.
Any thoughts?? What do you do and/or recommend??
Mike

We routinely numb and have for over 20 years. I prefer it and out patients do too. I've had IVs started on me both ways and prefer it to be numbed. It's effective and even though it's "2 sticks" the patients are greatful for the benefit. An added benefit is that I can locate the vein, prep it, do the numbing stick and then put my gloves on and not have to do so much palpating for the vein again and run the risk of contaminating my site when I go to do the start... the little bleb marks the spot for me.

bobnurse · Jun 1, 2005

EMLA works great if you have the hour to wait.

debliv · Jun 2, 2005

emlamax works even faster than emla usually in 20 minutes. I have started IV's with and without lidocaine. As expected some patients are more tolerable than others. I have started without lido and the patient says "I didn't feel a thing" but if they are very anxious about IV start I use lido. Sometimes the placebo effect works.

Kudra · Jun 5, 2005

i'm really curious about this techique... approx. how must saline do you inject to make the bleb... and is it really that easy to start the IV through it?

Daytonite, BSN, RN · Jun 5, 2005

i'm really curious about this techique... approx. how must saline do you inject to make the bleb... and is it really that easy to start the IV through it?

If you're using a TB syringe you draw up 1/10 of a mL. If you use an Insulin syringe (because I am too lazy to look for a TB syringe) draw up to the 10 unit mark on a 100 unit syringe. Shoot the whole 1/10th mL subdermally so you bring up a wheal. That is for either the saline or lidocaine. Use 1% lidocaine, not the 2%. Give it a minute or two to diffuse into the tissues. Then insert your IV needle into the puncture hole you made with the TB syringe.

Yes, it is really that easy to start an IV this way.