Catheter for U/S peripheral access

[Carm]

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What length of catheter are you guys using who are placing Basilic IV's under US using for patients with difficult access? I have used this technique some lately and am still trying to work out kinks since I am 'pioneering' technique at my hospital. Used regular 18g on first two. They ended up working their way out of vein. No longer catheters are available right now. Have used tricked up version with femoral aline kit. Total overkill, but best option with supplies at my disposal. Is a 2inch 18g long enough to do the trick?

 

[Arch Guillotti]

What length of catheter are you guys using who are placing Basilic IV's under US using for patients with difficult access? I have used this technique some lately and am still trying to work out kinks since I am 'pioneering' technique at my hospital. Used regular 18g on first two. They ended up working their way out of vein. No longer catheters are available right now. Have used tricked up version with femoral aline kit. Total overkill, but best option with supplies at my disposal. Is a 2inch 18g long enough to do the trick?

Long 18 gauge catheter.

 

[psychbender]

The only 2" needles we have are the 14-gauge ones, but we do have 1.75" 20-gauge. I also have had some success with the long 20-gauge Arrow a-line kit, if I couldn't find the longer regular IV catheters.

 

[Yangkower]

I've seen a pediatric CVC used (8-12cm). These are also safer for EJs.

 

[jennyboo]

Is a 2inch 18g long enough to do the trick?

Depends on how much tissue you poked through before you hit vein. 😛

I find that these IVs, especially if they are deep, have a tendency to infiltrate (i.e. back themselves out of the vein) easily. So I'd have a low threshold to thread that 4.25" femoral a-line catheter.

 

[proman]

I typically use an Arrow radial artery line but the IV therapy nurses use a mid-line which I think is better. I just need to figure out where they store the kits.