When would you use a foot vein for venipuncture?!
Question: When would you use a foot vein for venipuncture!?
i need to know this for my plebotomist test we havent gone over it in class yet!.!.!.
also whats required before you use foot veins and whats the consequences!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
also whats required before you use foot veins and whats the consequences!?Www@Answer-Health@Com
Answers:
I'm not a phleb, but I can tell you about the times that I've had to use the legs for venipuncture/IV's!.
One person had cerebral palsy and his upper arms were contracted!. His mother refused to let me put an IV in his arms, and insited I do it in his foot!. So, I got an order for a foot IV per mother's request and popped it in, drew labs, and capped it!.
Another person was septic and began to crash - she had cold, mottled upper extremities with decreased blood flow to the arms (due to the sepsis)!. The IV access in her arm was no longer working, and after many attempts in the arm by several nurses, we went in the foot; it bought us time until we could do a central line!.
As far as what's required before using foot veins: I'd say it would be a last resort!. Examples of such situations includes bilateral arm amputations, contracted upper extremities, or any other conditions that would make it difficult/impossible to draw labs from the arms (for example, extensive scaring or burns on the arms)!. Most facilities will not allow phlebs to draw from any site other than the arms!. I would never access a site in the legs without an order first!. It is acceptable to use a lancet on the lateral sides on the bottom of the heel in infants!.
Consequences!? Increased risk of getting a blood clot, decreased mobility and difficulty with ambulation, and increased risk of infection (especially in patients with diabetes)!. If you have a patient that needs a CT with IV contrast, you can't use an IV in the foot to give the dye!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
One person had cerebral palsy and his upper arms were contracted!. His mother refused to let me put an IV in his arms, and insited I do it in his foot!. So, I got an order for a foot IV per mother's request and popped it in, drew labs, and capped it!.
Another person was septic and began to crash - she had cold, mottled upper extremities with decreased blood flow to the arms (due to the sepsis)!. The IV access in her arm was no longer working, and after many attempts in the arm by several nurses, we went in the foot; it bought us time until we could do a central line!.
As far as what's required before using foot veins: I'd say it would be a last resort!. Examples of such situations includes bilateral arm amputations, contracted upper extremities, or any other conditions that would make it difficult/impossible to draw labs from the arms (for example, extensive scaring or burns on the arms)!. Most facilities will not allow phlebs to draw from any site other than the arms!. I would never access a site in the legs without an order first!. It is acceptable to use a lancet on the lateral sides on the bottom of the heel in infants!.
Consequences!? Increased risk of getting a blood clot, decreased mobility and difficulty with ambulation, and increased risk of infection (especially in patients with diabetes)!. If you have a patient that needs a CT with IV contrast, you can't use an IV in the foot to give the dye!.Www@Answer-Health@Com
Well I finished my Phlebotomy class last semester and usually you mostly draw from veins in the foot on an infant!. You use the either side of the heel!. My teacher never said anything about using the foot on an adult or older child because you can use the hand, arm, forearm, or even leg for these!. When using the plantar veins on an infant you must first warm the site to increase blood flow, you can only puncture on either side of the heel never in the middle, you must also use the right size puncture needle or you can go to deep into the skin and possible hit the bone causing an infection!. Cleanse the site and perform the puncture to obtain a sample for the required tests!. I hope this helps!.Www@Answer-Health@Com