ACT 3 - Venipuncture Flashcards
(37 cards)
Two patterns of veins in the antecubital fossa
H and M pattern
Order of the preferred vein for venipuncture in H pattern
Median cubital, cephalic vein, basilic vein
Order of preferred vein for venipuncture in M pattern
Median vein, median cephalic vein, median basilic vein
Sites deferred for venipuncture
- Tattooed, burns, scars
- Edematous arm
- Arm adjacent to mastectomy
- Burns
Means “in front of the elbow”
Antecubital
Why is locating the proper site for venipuncture important?
To avoid erroneous lab results and affect the overall outcome
Typically larger, closer to the surface, better anchored, and more stationary than the others
Median antecubital vein
Easiest and least painful site to puncture
Median antecubital vein
Site to collect blood when the Median antecubital vein fails
Cephalic vein
Movable and not embedded in the muscle
Cephalic vein
Often well-anchored but harder to palpate that the median cubital vein. Often vein that is found in obese patients
Cephalic vein
Most painful site for extraction
Basilic vein
Last resort vein for venipuncture
Basilic vein
Easy to palpate, not as well anchored, rolls more easily
Basilic vein
Materials for locating the proper site for venipuncture
Gloves, mask, tourniquet
A constricting device applied to a patient’s arm prior to venipuncture with the aim of inflating the veins by restricting venous blood for a period of time
Tourniquet
The position of the tourniquet above antecubital area
3-4 fingers above
Where does the loop of the tourniquet point?
Antecubital area
Where does the tail of the tourniquet point?
Above
A properly applied tourniquet is what?
Tight enough to restrict venous flow out of the area but not so tight as to restrict arterial flow into the area
Restriction of venous flow helps what?
- inflate veins, making it larger and easier to find,
- Stretches the vein walls so they are thinner and easier to pierce with a needle
How many minutes will it take to change the blood components of the restriction of blood flow by a tourniquet?
1 minute
2 types of positions for patients
- Seated patient
- Supine patient
Position of a Seated patient
- Patient’s arm supported
- Arms not bent at the elbow
