30 years and this was the first time it happened, what about you?

[DutchgirlRN]

The other day I started an IV in the AC of a woman who had absolutely nothing to stick. I went at the usual angle, nothing deep, when I went to hook the J loop on blood started pumping out. I though, hum artery? I hooked up the IV to see what would happen (did not turn on the pump) and yep there was the blood pulsating up the tubing. I pulled the IV. Several others tried to get an IV on her and she ended up with a PICC. This was the first time I've ever hit an artery! It was clear to me that it was an artery but the nurse who had the patient didn't want me to pull it and that is why I continued to hook it up to the IV tubing to show her it wouldn't run.Just curious does this happen often in the AC? What happens if the nurse doesn't realize and does run an IV through an artery? I do know that once we had a patient from the LTC facility across the street come in for an amputation of her right arm because her PICC line was in an artery. YIKES.

[christianRN]

I've done this several times as I'm starting PICCs. It's a little alarming to see blood pulsating and spurting out!

[neneRN, BSN, RN]

Just curious, how can you tell whether or not it is an artery as opposed to a vein before sticking?

You can palpate the pulse with an artery. In general, you can see and feel the veins; arteries are a little deeper.

I start so many IVs in the ER, that over the last 5 years, I've maybe hit an artery 5-6 times. Usually, its been in that area that another poster made reference to, a few inches above the V between the thumb and index..not where you'd expect an artery. But I've caught it each time right away when I went to connect the port...went ahead and used the site to draw my labs (so the stick wasn't a total waste!) and then d/c'ed after I double checked by hooking up an IV bag.

[JBudd, MSN]

I've never hit an artery, but the most unusual IV I ever got in was a fellow who had no veins left either. He said the only place anyone gets him anymore is the inner thigh. And I did! Surprised me too.:uhoh21:

[LoriAlabamaRN]

I've never hit an artery, but the most unusual IV I ever got in was a fellow who had no veins left either. He said the only place anyone gets him anymore is the inner thigh. And I did! Surprised me too.:uhoh21:

OWWWWIIIIEEEEEEEEEE! I think I'd opt for a central line!!!