Mum in hospital - can’t get a vein - no medication

[Helladelinquent]

Mum is in A&E right now. She’s feeling really sick and they want to insert a canula to give her anti- sickness medicine but 4 nurses have tried and her veins are just collapsed.

they have said there is no other option but surely there must be something. Anyone come across anything?

Depending on exactly why she needs the anti emetic, we use ondansetron melts quite a lot in children, that are absorbed through the mucous membranes of the mouth. If she really needs IV, they may need to find someone better at cannulation.

They need to get a Dr- ideally an anaesthetist to put a cannula in. I work in maternity services and if a woman is very difficult to cannulate the anaesthetist uses ultrasound to visualise the vein. Hope your mum gets the meds she needs soon x

I don’t know if it will help as it’s a bit of a different situation but I was unable to be cannulated due to severe dehydration and they ended up getting the paediatric consultant on call to come to A&E as they were more experienced accessing smaller veins. I’d have a few attempts already with a nurse and more junior doctor with no luck. It did also mean my cannula had a little bear sticker on, but did the job and had to be replaced with an adult cannula when the veins had plumped back up a bit.

I hope they get it sorted for her quickly!

Anti emetic medication can be given subcutaneously ie under the skin. Doesn’t work so quickly but should have an effect within 30 minutes. Hope your Mum feels better soon.X

Is there a paediatric nurse available? That's what they did for me when a regular nurse was unable to get blood from me. The peads nurse did it without any fuss. They're used to tiny, fragile veins apparently.

After 4 nurses they should be calling in what my hospital called “the IV team”. I don’t know if that nomenclature is universal but I have to imagine the concept exists at any major hospital. They visited me many times when I had cancer. She might end up with an unusual placement, but they are miracle workers.

Ah, I see I've basically said the same thing as you!

I’m an ICU Dr and I do the difficult cannulas for kids and adults in our hospital.

There will be someone to escalate to who can use an ultrasound, or who is simply more
expert in cannulation. Ask them who it is.

There's definitely anti sickness meds that will go under her tongue, as pp said. Definitely ask if that is an option before cannula.