site rite 4 and 5...help!

[blsmom]

I am very new and learning the ropes to picc placements. I am having trouble seeing the needle on the screen enter the vein. In regards to the site rite u/s machine does the angiocaths show up less than the needle in the microintroducer kits? Any tips greatly appreciated:confused:

Thanks

[kraye]

what i look for is the needle pressing on the vein and then watch for my flash in the angiocath advance a little bit.. i do no always see the needle in the vein on the site rite 5.

[philly22]

If you are having trouble seeing your needle on the screen, there are companies who sell ecogenic tip needles. They are easier to visualize on the site rite or sono site.

[sam53]

I am very new and learning the ropes to picc placements. I am having trouble seeing the needle on the screen enter the vein. In regards to the site rite u/s machine does the angiocaths show up less than the needle in the microintroducer kits? Any tips greatly appreciated:confused:

Thanks

If you feel your in the vein try turning the head of the transducer till you will see the vein in different axis. You will eventually see the needle entering the vein. It also sometime helps you see your vein and valves which may be obstructing your wire. Just turn the transducer slowly and you can tell the difference in the vein versus arteries the same way by the collapsing technique. If you can get use to it by using it this way it give you a better picture of catheter to vein but it is not easy and not all vein are clearly visible due to large arteries over them.

[PICC ACE]

Angiocath tips are not designed to show up well on US,but they do. The tips of the needles in the microintroducer sets generally have a specially textured end that does show up well on the screen.

Here's a quick way to see what things look like under US. Fill a small cup with water or US gel. Put the probe in the gel or water and stick an echogenic needle into the medium under the probe. You will see a bright white dot,the needle tip,on the US screen. Then do the same with the angiocath and you'll still see a dot but you'll notice it's not quite the same.

[ParadoxxRN]

I rarely have trouble seeing the needle on the screen, and if I jiggle it a bit, I can easily distinguish the needle tip. But the angio is a bit more difficult to visualize. I will try your tip ACE as it may help to just practice seeing the tip in a safe environment. Thanks.