Cannula, difficult veins and epidural

[Bells3032]

Hello all

Anyone else with terrible veins had an epidural? I have awful veins and when I've had surgery before they've had to replace the cannulas multiple times and eventually remove them altogether cos they got clogged up if not constantly in use and never got them in quite straight leaving me in pain and with tonnes of bruises.

However I am aware I would need a canula if I wanted an epidural and wanted to know if anyone had the same experiences and what they did eg did they constantly change it or did they keep a saline drip constantly attached. I'm worried the stress of having a cannula put in will not outweigh the pain of natural childbirth but maybe I'm niave. Help

Any experiences appreciated. I'd be going private if that makes any difference.

I thought if you had an epidural you had to be on saline anyway to prevent it from lowering your blood pressure?

I didn't knkw that. Thank you!

Mine are crap! I told them they were crap when I had my first child and sadly they didn't quite trust me so I ended up being a pin cushion;

• midwife
• phlebotomist
• senior midwife
• consultant
• anaesthetist

Finally ended up with anaesthetist using an ultrasound scanner to find the vein, midwife held in place whilst she tried to do it and eventually got a successful line in.

I would say just be firm, if I was to be in labour again I would give them one attempt and if no joy I'd ask for the ultrasound straight off.

Mine are the same - if I have a cannula saline has to be put in IMMEDIATELY to keep it open, I've been in hospital a few times and have learned to not let anyone near me with a cannula unless they are also ready with the saline then and there!

However you might want to chat with an anaesthetist - I have hypermobile EDS and react to a lot of drugs so was sent to see him in pregnancy and I expected him to offer me drug alternatives etc but was surprised when he said bc my veins "fail" often he wouldn't be happy for me to have a spinal as if it happened with that I could be permanently paralyzed as nobody would know it had failed until it was too late... He actually wrote in my notes that if I needed an emergency section it would have to be a general anaesthetic (thankfully DS2 came in the pool with not even gas and air bc I was "saving" it - would have totally had more if it was an option though).

Have you ever used emla cream prior to cannulation? Its a local anaesthetic, numbing cream and often used when cannulating children, for needle phobic patients, but also for tattoos and piercings. You can order it online or from larger pharmacists. You leave it on 1hr prior to use, but it stays numb several hours. You put a pea sized blob on the skin, then apply a sticky, clear dressing over the top to keep it in place.

Not all hospital wards would have it in stock, hence I'd suggest buying a few tubes and take along. Some anaesthetists will use a local anaesthetic injection if its really painful instead of emla. Certainly speak to the anaesthetist beforehand and check its written on your notes.

Although emla helps pain it's probably not the solution here bc if veins are crap they don't know where it will be sited - I've often had 2 holes in both hands fail and had to have it on inside wrist. So unless I was slathered all over with the stuff it wouldn't help pain. It is incredible stuff though isn't it?! DS had some stuck on and bit them off and managed to get it on my face and it was very numb where it was

I have to have cannulas placed by an anaesthetic using ultrasound and they never last more than 24 hours but didn't have a problem having an epidural put in and kept in for seven days as pain relief for major surgery.

@danigrace that's interesting. I don't have eds but I do have joint hypermobility syndrome although never had a reaction to any medication in the 12 surgeries I've had just issues with the cannula blocking.

I used emla when I was a kid it numbs your skin so only when it's being put in which I can cope with. It's when it's in and not sited properly that it causes pain. I've ended up having it in both my elbows the back of my hand and my wrist in one evening. I think will have to have a word with the anethstist when. The time comes

I had to have mine put on the inside of my elbow, where you would normally have blood taken from.
For some reason, everytime the cannula went in, it hit a valve. The world and his dog had a try with both hands before the anaesthetist put it in my inner arm.
Only problem was everytime I bent my arm it set the alarm off, which at first was quite distracting whilst pushing.

My veins are rubbish as I had cancer as a child and they have never recovered from all the chemo.
Last year I needed a c section to deliver my little girl as I was quite unwell with preeclampsia, I had been in hospital for a few days waiting for a theatre Slot, I had warned them about my dodgy veins but I dont think they believed me.
3 anaesthetist attempted to get a line including using a ultrasound machine, blood everywhere lol, in the end I had to have a central line put in my neck.
Hopefully you will have better luck with your veins, good luck x

I’d mention to your MW that you have had issue previously with the cannula clotting, so that they are aware they may need to regularly flush it if it’s not in constant use. Also if your MW struggles with getting one in, its usually the reg or anaesthetist that does it, from experience ask for the anaesthetist to do it as they are often so much quicker at it than the reg...

You’ll be given saline/Hartmans before the epidural starts to help prevent low blood pressure, you will only be given more saline/Hartmans if your blood pressure drops, the fluid doesn’t run constantly whilst you’ve got an epidural in.

Hard veins that collapse all the time...I’ve had most midwives fail to get blood and a junior doctor once tried 12 time’s to get a line in before I told him to bugger off (not labour related thankfully!) I told my midwife as I was also induced and she just got the person on the ward known for getting a good line in, and she was straight in and wasn’t even too painful, and same for the anaesthetist, I guess you’ve got to remember anaesthetists do it all day long. I weirdly found the epidural easier than getting a cannula in too? Good luck!

Sorry to jump on the thread!
I have awful veins had 15 attempts with last cannula. I am currently TTC and really worried about this, I also can't hve Local anaesthetic and things like that @danigrace I have EDS to and that's why, I might message you if that's okay ?

@ohsotrying no problem at all, happy to share x