In our hospital in the western part of the Netherlands, we started
inserting PICCs three years ago. Now we are looking for an applicative
medical device so that ultrasound guided venipunctures are possible.
Does anyone have experience with equipment from MEPY or BARD (siteRite).
Please let me know.
I use a Venoscope transilluminator on those patients that I can not feel and see the veins on. I have great luck with it. Usually get the IV on the first attempt using it and they are fairly reasonable in cost. Valorie
Valorie Dunn,BSN, RN, CRNI, PLNC
There are several good venous ultrasound devices on the market now. Bard's new SiteRite Vision is good and has the capability of vein measurements and doppler flow. Sonosite has an excellent product in the Micromax but is a lot more money. I share one with the cath lab which makes it possible for me to have such an excellent piece of equipment. The learning curve is a little steep with any ultrasound but if you want to do the best for your patients, you need ultrasound. You need to be able to choose the correct size picc for the patients vein, make sure the vein is good from the elbow to the axilla, stay away from the artery and median nerve, and the list goes on and on. I love my Sonosite but you should look at several before you choose.