Stim Cath Experiment

[imfrankie]

I want to do some experiments with Stim Caths. What do you folks like? Never really used them much. Which company will toss out some freebies? Thanks all.

 

[Oggg]

Ask all of them for 2 samples, one to play with one to use

 

[sevoflurane]

I want to do some experiments with Stim Caths. What do you folks like? Never really used them much. Which company will toss out some freebies? Thanks all.

I used the arrow kits quite a bit 4-5 years ago. Didn't like them much. The ID was too darn small and injecting a bolus was painfully slow... felt like injecting 20cc's through a 24g catheter. Also easily kinkable as their is a metal component to the catheters... rendering your catheter and block useles.

Nowdays, I just use a non stimulating stiff epidural catheter under USD guidence. Easier and way cheaper than say this:

http://www.4mdmedical.com/medical-s...0-mm-insulated-tuohy-needle.html#.UEipT-3FU00

This is a much cheaper set up when you have an USD machine:

On the flip side, I do like to visualy observe a twitch in the correct area once the catheter is in place. Reassurance... but USD gives you that.... 🙄

Stimulating tuohy's may be OK as well... but depending on the block, I don't find them that useful (for femorals for example... I will stim my ISB).

[/IMG]

Used to use them for lumbar plexus catheters... but that is a BIG needle going into a non compressible area.... don't do lumbar plexus catheters anymore... and am stepping away from LP single shots.

We've had freebies from braun and arrow.

 

[Oggg]

I believe stim caths are typically very stiff and are easily seen on ultrasound.

I use the non stim non springwound catheters myself. Once you start doing single shots without stim, you'll get comfortable with a non stim catheter. Ask if they have Echogenic catheters