Transilluminator for IV Starts/Lab Sticks

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I recently started using a Red LED Transilluminator for doing my lab sticks and IV starts on the smaller preemies. It is as good as if not better than the more expensive model and i picked up several for other staff members.

They work great but does anyone know of other Transilluminators we could try at a reasonable price?

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Specializes in NICU.

A lot of my coworkers use our transilluminators to do IVs, but we're not supposed to because kids have been burned in the past. I've never used one, as I figure, why start a bad habit? I didn't know that there were any that were made specifically for finding veins in preemies. Can you tell me more about them, like where to buy? It might be something we'd be interested in. Right now, we only have two kinds - one that is used for transilluminating pneumos, and one that is attached to the bili blanket machine. Both have warnings against using them for prolonged periods to start IVs.

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Specializes in Nurse Scientist-Research.

We use transluminators for all those things; IV stick, pneumos, I think we even have used it to help with art sticks. We just got several of those "wee sights" specifically to use for IV/art sticks. I haven't seen them used for detection of pneumos, we usually use the other transluminators for that. I found a link for the wee sight and this is definately the one we use.

http://www.whitfordmedical.co.nz/CMV/Wee%20Sight.htm

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The Doc's use the Wee Sight but it is expensive. I used to use the otoscope but it gets hot.

I just dorsiflex the preemie's hand/wrist over the Transilluminator and the red light shine through it showing the veins/arteries like you would not believe. The only warning it comes with is not to look directly into the light....DUH!!!!

If I want an IV, I just place it either under the preemie's hand or arm and have someone hold it while I stick visualizing the vein. Another technique is to use it to find the vein and then place two dots along the vein line with my ink pen. I then turn the lights on and start by inserting the IV cath just below the distal dot and aiming toward the proximal dot; I only have to figure out depth after that and that's not hard at all.

Hope that helps. Blind sticks on preemies, or adults for that matter, are not my forte.

Have a great day!!!

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Specializes in NICU, Infection Control.

One of the formula reps gave us one! (those folks are downright devious) Personally, I have better luck w/o them, but they can be useful when "shopping", esp on really edematous babies.

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That's true; they are unbeatable when "shopping" for a vein. Nice phrase btw!!

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Specializes in peds, case management, ur, iv team.

A couple of nurses I work with on the IV team have purchased the Wee Sight directly from the company...it's about $66 with shipping...you have to call the 800 number to order...the company is Children's Medical Ventures 800-345-6443...the wee sight is the only thing they will allow you to order...I plan on ordering one for myself...hope that helps

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Specializes in Maternal - Child Health.

Unless you are working with a really chubby baby, a good penlight works just as well, at very little cost, and without the heat that some transilluminators generate. You may need to turn the overhead lights down, though.

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I also went out and bought an inexpensive "cold light" LED flat flashlights that come with red, blue, or white lights. They do not get hot and work so much better than the $100 one's our unit purchased. The one I just got from Target is flat and flexable and is small enough to use on micro premies

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Specializes in NICU.

Which brands are they? I'd like to try this myself. Anyone willing to post a photo?

I just called ChildMed (1-800-345-6443; Option 5, then Option 4) and a single WeeSight is $63, a bulk purchase of 10 comes out to $57 apiece, and a bulk purchase of 21 is $51 apiece, FYI. :>)

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NICU_Nurse you are in luck, I still have the package the flat light came in. I got it at target. It is from Energizer Trim Flex LED. It cost less than $10 before tax. I hope this helps. It works great as a transluminator in starting IVs and doing art sticks. We do all our own IVs and blood draws.

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Specializes in NICU.

:kiss

Ah!!! I love it! I love the flexible neck. I am TOTALLY getting one of these.

Thank you so much!!! You just saved me 50 bucks.

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