Veins keep blowing 😮‍💨

[Wittow]

Is there anything I can do?

I was supposed to have an iron infusion today ahead of major surgery next week but they tried to cannulate me 7 times and each vein blew. No clinical support available today so just HCA and 3 nurses tried.

They've given me an appointment for next week, the day before my surgery, for a Dr to try to cannulate me.

I'm so scared that my access is so poor that they will cancel my surgery.

Has anyone any experience of this and any helpful suggestions?

Bit odd that they didn’t call a doctor to do it today. I’d get back in touch with the surgeon and ask if not having the iron infusion in time for it to make a difference pre-op will influence whether it’s sensible to proceed with the surgery. They may be able to organise coming in sooner if it’s crucial.

Drink lots of fluids before
warm your hands - wear wooly gloves on your way
they can give you a bucket of hot water to stick your hand in before or take your own heat pad ( you can get from pharmacy, I don’t think they have in the hospital)
keep you hands lower than your body so the blood is going down

All this will make veins pop out even before they put the tourniquet on

good if they can use a blue cannula , maybe even yellow (smaller)

My Hb needed to be 10 before I had surgery, the iron infusions that I had took around 10 days to pick up the Hb in case you need the iron infusion sooner.

See if you can schedule Iv insertion under ultrasound. This allows access to veins the nurse/ clinical staff cannot see or feel. It’s usually a separate appt prior to going to infusion. A “blue”’is a 22 gauge. A “ yellow “ is a 24. The 24 is smaller than 22. It’s too small for iron infusion. Allow clinical staff to select the appropriate sized needle. Some are too small for certain continous infusions. You can ask for anesthesia to try to cannulation but if you were in the infusion dept those nurses have plenty of Iv experience. Typically more than the doctors. Agree with PP….drink 64 oz of H2O and heat can help. Arrive early and Self identify as a difficult Iv access.

A

I had a general anaesthetic once, and they put me under then relocated the cannula to my foot whilst I was under.

Thanks everyone, will try the hest and hydration! Fingers crossed 🤞

Good luck @Wittow and hope all goes well with your surgery x

As per a pp. Arrange for it to be done under ultrasound. Ask to speak to the Matron for the area and she will help to arrange it for you.

I have an annual infusion for osteoporosis and do this because the nurses on the unit have had so many difficulties.