Vial Openers?

[mhy12784]

I know some use decanters or a needle and syringe

But does anyone know of any products for removing the metal tops from glass vials ? (lidocaine, naropin etc)

Ive been looking around, and coudlnt find anything interesting

Everyone tells me to just get blunt bandage scissors, but im not a fan. Theres gotta be a better way

Ive read of some sort of "pliers" that people on here talked about in an older thread, and couldnt find anything with google (outside of some 200$~ ones)

anyone know any cheap simple products for removing those vial tops?

Thanks !

[RN_2012, BSN, RN]

I use my fingers to pop the tops off.

[RN_2012, BSN, RN]

Do u mean the little bottled with little plastic tops?

[Rose_Queen, BSN, MSN, RN]

Bandage scissors or a tubing clamp work best for me. It's a technique that gets easier with time. I used to struggle because this would only be necessary in a few cases. Now with my specialty, we add powdered vanco to a gel on the field- a decanter or syringe isn't an option. Some manufacturers do make easy open vials, where there is a ring to pull and remove the metal piece.

[mhy12784]

Yeah, but they have metal (aluminum?) rings sealing them that you have to take off first

(before you can pop off the little rubber stopper underneath)

The plastic on top isnt an issue, nor is the rubber stopper. But its the sealed aluminum component that is the issue.

[mhy12784]

Bandage scissors or a tubing clamp work best for me. It's a technique that gets easier with time. I used to struggle because this would only be necessary in a few cases. Now with my specialty, we add powdered vanco to a gel on the field- a decanter or syringe isn't an option. Some manufacturers do make easy open vials, where there is a ring to pull and remove the metal piece.

Have you heard of people using beer bottle openers or anything ?

Ive had people mention it to me, but havent seen it

Not sure how viable it would be

[MereSanity]

Bottle openers...the kind you use in the kitchen.

[RNIBCLC]

Have you heard of people using beer bottle openers or anything ?

Ive had people mention it to me, but havent seen it

Not sure how viable it would be

We use bottle openers to open lidocaine during deliveries. Each delivery cart has a bottle opener in the drawer for this reason.

[WhoDatWhoDare, BSN, RN]

I'm going through Peri-Op 101 and one of the things that was covered last week was that we should not be popping the stopper on the vial when the circulator is transferring the medication to the sterile field. In the article by Hopper and Moss from the March 2010 AORN Journal, they state "Medications should be delivered to the sterile field in an aseptic manner. The circulating nurse should not remove the vial stoppers to pour the medication into a labeled receptacle on the sterile field." Is this article referring to the same thing you are referring to?

Don

[MereSanity]

Yes...they are not good for the OR environment. But other floors aren't as concerned with sterility. In the OR you should use transfer devices on the vials.

[peabozzle]

some places I have worked use these......20mm Vial Decapper Pliers - Vial Decapper Pliers - All Products

but my current OR makes us use a sterile decanter or syringe transfer

[heartlover]

My facility doesn't allow the use of these anymore, but I found one the other day in a drawer and thought I'd post it.