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I V
S T A R T S
SETTING THE TONE
Why First-Stick Success Matters
T
he ini-
HELPING HAND Many
patients are understandably
anxious before their surgeries. Successful IV starts can
put them at ease.
tial
pro-
cedure per-
formed on surgical patients
Jason Meehan
is the IV insertion. If it goes
smoothly,
patients gain
confidence in the abilities of your surgical
external or internal jugular veins. Consider,
team. If it requires multiple attempts or is
too, that needle-phobic patients may not let
painful, patients' anxieties may increase,
you try a second time if the initial attempt
which creates negative first impressions of
fails. The only alternatives may be a mask
the care you provide.
induction of general anesthesia without an
For patients who have only 1 visible vein,
IV — which carries more risk than an IV
it's very important that the initial IV attempt
induction of general anesthesia — or can-
is successful. If it fails, you have to consid-
celling the case altogether.
er more challenging locations, such as
— Richard Novak, MD
ing a regional venoconstrictor. The
catheter will suffice. If there's risk of
physiology behind the mechanism
blood loss, or a possibility of blood
isn't important. The bottom line: This
transfusion, an 18-gauge catheter is
technique works.
appropriate. Butterfly needles are not
preferred because they require leaving
4
Select the catheter
a needle in the small vein, rather than
Choose a standard 20-gauge or
the plastic IV catheter.
22-gauge IV catheter. For most
outpatient surgeries, a 20-gauge
J U LY 2013 | S U P P L E M E N T
TO
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E
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