We have seen an increase in # of pokes to upper arms on infants and pediatric patients (as has our adult PICC team). Negative outcomes of this practice have been edematous and/or bruised upper arms, as well as fewer PICC sites available. I have searched our database (available to us @ hospital) for any studies done on upper arm PIVs, but am empty handed thus far. Does anyone know of such a study? I would appreciate it greatly.
Thank you,
Gretchen
Children's Hospital @ OU Medical Center
I have never seen a study about using the veins of the upper arm for venipuncture, other than a few studies using ultrasound. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
126 Main Street, PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861