Water filled IUPCs

[k_cole21]

Greetings All,

I just want to ask who still uses the water-filled IUPCs? Do you have other options like koalas? Do you place them or does the physicians place them? I'm at a hospital that uses these and I've never heard of such a thing. I find that they are not very accurate, you can't effectively manage a patient because you can't reposition them appropriately. Also, if your technique is bad you can introduce infection. Tell me what you all think and please forward any links to any studies if you have info on these IUPCs.

Thanks!

[SmilingBluEyes]

Actually, I find their readings more accurate than INTRANS, but I prefer using INTRANS (it's what I grew up with). INTRANS tend to run a higher baseline reading than the fluid-filled catheters.

Now, we used Koalas where I used to work----but the dr's placed them there. So no really reliable personal anecdotes there.

Where i am now, we place our own IUPCs, either INTRANS or the water-filled---our choice. One dr insists on the water-filled and will not use INTRANS, ever. I just prefer INTRANS---easier to calibrate and use to me--and like I said, it's what I learned to use first.

About infection: faulty techique can be responsible for the rise in infection chances, not just the IUPC choice in and of itself. If you dont' use sterile technique (obviously) or it's in place a long time----you have a wick for infection, clearly. I try to use internal monitors very judiciously. If a woman is making good progress and her baby is looking fine, I tend to hold off using internals...and I limit my SVEs. That seems to be the key to avoiding infection/amnionitis more than anything else. Keep your hands OUT if you can!!!!

[RNnL&D]

We use INTRANS and have just started using Koalas. We have a couple docs who seem to place them on most of their pts, but most of our docs don't use them very often. We are a fairly low intervention unit. Personally, I don't place them and really have no desire to learn. We have a very experienced, wonderful doc who tells the story of causing a complete abruption back when he was a resident that makes me not want to be responsible for something that risky.:uhoh21:

[midwife2b]

I haven't seen a water filled IUPC in over 15 years.

We use INTRAN. Trialing Koala now. Koala had a problem about 10 years ago with a rising resting tone and supposedly that is fixed. Koalas are easier to insert but I like the INTRAN better overall. Probably because I still don't trust Koala readings.