Hi there,
We service a number of long-term home care patients requiring IGG. Their therapies can range from 3-5 days continuous as often as every 4-8 weeks. Often times the short PIVs need to be restarted during the week sometimes daily. Has anyone used the PowerWand or PowerGlide in these scenarios? Is it recommended? Is insertion with these devices okay to perform on the vessels every 4-8 weeks?
Thanks,
Donna
Before this question could be answered, I would want to know what is the cause of the PIVs failing, especially those that must be restarted every day. Phlebitis, infiltration, poor choice of site selection, catheters too large being used, lack of adequate catheter and joint stabilization if an area of joint flexion must be used? I would first work on correction of that problem. I would hesitate to be inserting any midline catheter every 4 to 8 weeks as this will eventually lead to vein damage such as stenosis. Remember there are, at best, 3 veins in each arm for a midline insertion - basilic, cephalic, brachial. That will not give you many locations when they become sclerosed or stenosed. 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
Thank you for the replay Lynn. Failure is attributed to dislogement, poor access and limited location choices leading to poor site location, infiltration, painful site but not phlebitic. Catheters are 24g. There is the possibility the patient may get a port but she wants to avoid it if she can; hence, we are looking at our options, however, as you have confirmed our suspiciions, accessing upper arms as often as would need to be in this case may lead to permanent vein trauma. At very best, it may be a temporary option until the patient agrees to a port. Thank you.
Donna Lussier