NURS 225 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Cephalic Vein, Mastectomy, Bleeding Time
4 Nov 2020
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Short peripheral catheter (the only one seen in alberta) Vein condition (soft, straight, palpate to assess refill) Age (under 18 months, use scalp, elderly, avoid use of veins on top of the hand) Patient preference (is patient right of left handed, use opposite to dominant arm) Medication - anticoagulants (be mindful of prolonged bleeding time and bruising) Medical conditions (stroke patients, do not use affected sides and mastectomy patients, do not place on side where mastectomy has occurred) Vein sites with greatest injury for nerve injury. Never use digital veins (high risk of infiltration) Cephalic vein (try to start 8 to 10 centimetres above the thumb to avoid hitting the radial. Metacarpal vein - not first choice, especially for irritating medication and the elderly nerve) Accessory cephalic vein - difficult to find in individuals with lots of adipose tissue. Antecubital fossa is used more for phlebotomy, as it is unnatural for area to remain hyperextended.
