ifindoubt2

Thanks for the timely response. No sclerosis as I could tell--only on IVPB remecade and Benedryl IV previously. I even tried a steeper angle of entry on 2nd attempt, but same result. It felt like she had "rubberized" veins. I felt awful, and will attempt a simple butterfly if I have her again. Still need input, please...

I've done many, many IV's over my career, but have recently begun infusing rhuematoid arthritis patients in an OPD. I have one patient whose peripheral veins (back of hands) seem particularly "tough". The first timeI did her IV, I felt a huge "pop" as I enered the vein, and had to use a surprising amount of force. No problem with the IV, once in. Next time, however, I got the point of the angiocath in, good blood flash, then couldn't get the 1/8 inch further in before trying to advance the silicone catheter. The vein zig-zagged as I tried, but I couldn't seem to get the plastic "sleeve" within the lumen of the vein. Her veins looked beautiful, and palpated with good resiliancy; I tried another site and had the same problem. Anyone with similar experience with "tough veins"?