Vascular Access Devices-So many to choose from with infusion therapy

Vascular Access Devices

Think about this for a while; at any given time; more than half to three quarters of all patients receive some form of intravenous care or medication during their hospital stay.  Intravenous therapy can range from normal saline to total parenteral nutrition, chemotherapy, electrolytes, antibiotics, narcotics or a combination of these parenteral therapies. Nurses are currently infusing several hundred various types of medications, intravenous solutions, and/or blood products.  Patient venous access may vary from poor vascular integrity, poor circulation, good vascular integrity, and excellent blood flow or a combination of each the aforementioned.
Nurses must have a good understanding of why everyday peripheral intravenous therapy fails.   It is often that the characteristics of the intravenous medications and/or solutions provided to the patient and through their given vascular access device that the primary factor venous access devices do not last longer than 24-48 hours in most cases; specifically peripheral venous access devices (PIV). The drug compositions in a lot of medications we are infusing today have a high osmolarity as well as high Ph level.  What does that mean for you, the everyday floor/staff nurse?  It means a lot for you and the patient.   It is important, to evaluate and understand the drug pH and osmolality when selecting a venous access device to complete patient’s intravenous therapy as this can help prevent complications and as well as extend the lifetime of the catheter.

Types of Peripheral Venous Access Devices (PVAD) or (PIV)

Peripheral IV Catheters (PIV)

There are a couple of main companies that provide peripheral intravenous catheters; BD Medical and B Braun.

BD Medical

(BD Medical Nexiva)
BD Medical provides the BD Autogard Insyte over-the-needle catheters which range in gauges 14g to 24g and lengths of 0.75 to 1.88 inches. The Autogard Insytes 18g to 22g catheters are suitable for use with power injectors rated for a maximum of 300 psi.”(BD)
Materials: BD Vialon biomaterial-“BD Vialon biomaterial is a unique, proprietary biomaterial, developed especially for vascular access” (BD) and it softens as it sits in the vessel. (BD)

B Braun

B Braun provides “B Braun Introcan Safety IV Catheter” (B Braun).  The Introcan ranges in size from a 14g to 24g as well as the lengths range from 0.55in-2.5in. 

Retractable Technologies, Inc

 

Retractable Technologies, Inc states that their product the VanishPoint IV Catheter:

• minimizes exposure to the contaminated needle
• allows for one-handed activation
• integrated safety mechanism
• once activated, the needle is safely retracted through disposal
• easy to use

 

 To learn more about this and other topics download our vascular access information kit today. Central Valley Medical, LLC, would like to thank you for downloading our E-Book (Vascular Access Devices and Infusion Therapy are a Perfect Match).  At the end of this E-Book is a course evaluation.  Please fill it out with your NAME and License number and you will receive 1 CE Contact hour free.  Just Fax it back to (559) 354-0991 or email it to Onlinecampus@central-valley-med.com

References

1. Vascular Solutions. http://www.vascularsolutions.com/
2. IV-Therapy.net. “Micro-Introducer Technique for PICC Insertion A Sample Policy with Competency Checklist.” http://www.ivtherapy.net/
3. Galt Medical. “Microintroducer Kits.”  http://www.galtmedical.com/.
4. Bard Access. “PowerGroshong* PICC.”  http://www.bardaccess.com/.
5. Bard Access. “PowerPICC* Catheter.” http://www.bardaccess.com/.
6. Bard Access. “Maximum Barrier Kit.”  http://www.bardaccess.com/.
7. Cook Medical. “Cook Spectrum® Central Venous Catheter.” http://www.cookmedical.com/.
8. Cook Medical. “Triple Lumen Polyurethane Central Venous Catheter.” http://www.cookmedical.com/.
9. Retractable Technologies, Inc. http://www.vanishpoint.com/Simple4.aspx?PageID=175