Vein Illuminator

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Specializes in Psych, Addictions, SOL (Student of Life).

Ok, At my work I am sort of known as the "IV Whisperer". I work LTC as you know so we deal with a lot of older folks with veins that blow. foll and just generally do not want to come out and play. I am thinking of buying a vein illuminator flashlight to help locate those veins that run a little deeper. It looks like a small flashlight that is pressed to the skin and a red ultraviolet light is reflected below the skin surface to illuminate the vein. Has anyone here used one. It's only $24.00 so I am skeptical and don't want to waste my money .

Hppy

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

I use it and it is helpful on my population (dark-skinned, edematous, obese). It takes some training and practice and IMHO most useful in determining the vein course.

LOLs with tiny, easy-to-blow things are mostly matter of luck and technique. Gentle "floating" works great for them!

Check your PM!

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what is floating?????????????????

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Specializes in Emergency Medicine.

I don't personally like those- I prefer using ultrasound. Takes some time to learn and get used to, but makes a world of difference.

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Can I get a link for that?

I've found that looking for usual points of entry, coating arms with alcohol swabs, fist pumping and in extreme cases resistance curls reveal atleast 1 or 2 good spots to try.

In fact had one last night. Where they had spent a reported 3 hours trying to put one in at another hospital before transferring...took me three minutes.

that said, wouldn't mind having one for funnsies.

especially considering I recently learned I'm not allowed to put in ej's on the floor.

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Specializes in Oncology, Rehab, Public Health, Med Surg.

Link please?

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Specializes in Case mgmt., rehab, (CRRN), LTC & psych.

My former workplace had an Accuvein illuminator. While it did not help me much, it was of great utility to many of my former coworkers. The Venoscope is another brand of vein illuminators.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.

Here it is:

Illumivein® High Powered Red LED Flashlight Torch Transilluminator Vein Finder - - Amazon.com

Amazon has several similar product, I have this one. My first one was defective and did not give much light. I contacted customer service and they were great. I received two of them, both working awesome after a bit of getting used to. In fact, I was once accused of something alike of witchcraft because the poor soul swore that no one could ever hit him in less than five or fix pokes, and I was lucky from the first one:saint:

I would like to have ultrasound but the one problem is how to convince the Powers to spend around $2000 and another and the worse one is how to explain them that the policy only allowing PICC team to use ultrasound of any kind is, hmmm... well, we all know the word that should be rightfully used here.

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For the money, the Bard Prevue is a MUCH greater value.

Near-infrared illumination does not add much value to a detailed physical assessment of the patient's venous structures. Ultrasound on the other hand gives the clinician true 3D assessment. Ultrasound will find all the veins a light will PLUS those that are deeper than 0.5cm AND allow the nurse to assess the health of the vessel AND show live insertion.

You can find ultrasound, like the one I mentioned, for a competitive price compared to lights.

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Specializes in ICU, LTACH, Internal Medicine.
what is floating?????????????????

it is a useful technique for patients with tortuous, fragile veins and for cases when you know that the tip of the catheter is in the vein but it cannot be advanced.

Connect your extension with full 10 cc flush or (IMHO, preferred) with infusion system with a small bag of saline and free flow. Hit the vein, get back flush of blood, advance 0.5 - 1 mm, take off tourniquet (!!!), withdraw the needle. Connect your extension to the catheter still sticking almost all its length out of there. Open fluid to medium speed drip or VERY gently push the syringe. Gently advance catheter while flushing all the time and manipulating it as needed. You can move it left or right side while flushing, the flow of fluid around will help to bypass valves and bends and "guide" the tip of catheter into the vein. As soon as you fully inserted the catheter, stop flushing and disconnect extension.

The key is constant, gentle fluid flow without "pushing", which will blow up the vein. Just make sure this technique is ok to use in your facility, I once was in one where it was considered to be a privilege of IV team and anesthesia services.

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Specializes in ED, CTSurg, IVTeam, Oncology.

Don't waste your money. After having put in in excess of 100,000 IV's, I can readily tell you that those vein "illuminators" are just get rich quick schemes for a variety of medically knowledgeable people. The bottom line fact I've discovered over the course of a 30 year career is, none of them really work any better than a good old fashion flashlight held up tight against the skin. When one transilluminates through the skin, the vein generally stands out as a dark line because the fascia will reflect light while the vein does not. Just aim for the dark line and you're usually in.

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Specializes in NICU, ICU, PICU, Academia.

We have a vein finder (not sure the brand name) and use it all the time in Peds ICU with good success.

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