Vol. XIII, No. 8Archive > August, 2012
Ideas That Work
Dilate difficult veins - Grab-and-go GI carts - Who's your fire captain?
GET A GRIP Holding exam gloves filled with warm water encourages vasodilation in patients with tough-to-find veins.TO DILATE DIFFICULT VEINS
Fill Exam Gloves With Warm Water
Nothing's more frustrating than trying to start an IV on a patient with tough-to-find veins. Here's a simple solution. Fill a disposable exam glove with warm water (no warmer than 100°F) and instruct the patient to hold it in his hands. This can quickly provide the extra bit of warmth you need to encourage vasodilation and gain access to a vein.
- Fill the gloves with just enough water so that the patient can gently interlock her fingers while keeping as much of her palm as possible in contact with the surface area of the gloves (see photo).
- Tie a knot in each glove, just as you would with a water balloon.
- Have the patient grasp and hold on to the gloves as described in the first step, which should help the veins dilate. An important note: Don't try this approach if you're also placing an electric heating pad or other electric heating device on the patient.
Jay Horowitz, CRNA, ARNP
Quality Anesthesia Care Corp.
Sarasota, Fla.
unconscious@verizon.net
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