The AccuVein Learning Center is your go-to place for information on Vein Illumination, Venipuncture and training for the AccuVein product line. The Learning Center provides the latest news, video training and documentation downloads.
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The Cost of Catheter-Related Bloodstream InfectionsThis article, The Cost of Catheter-Related Bloodstream Infections, was found in the Sept/Oct 2011 issue of The Journal of Infusion Nursing. The article summarizes what is currently known about the cost of CRBSI's in the ICU setting. The cost of CRBSIs ranges from $33,000 to $75,000, with reimbursement that tends to be $26,000 less... -
Antecubital FossaAntecubital fossa, a great location to draw blood but not so great for IV placement. Many times it can be difficult to find a suitable location for IV insertion. In such cases some may think that putting the IV in the antecubital fossa may be a good option. This may be true in the... -
Use of Blood Pressure Cuff in Place of a TourniquetWe've heard that BP cuffs are occasionally used in lieu of a tourniquet a when starting an IV. Inflating and releasing to about 30-40mm Hg tends to provide sufficient distention without increased discomfort to the patient. When using a blood pressure cuff instead of a tourniquet, care must be exercised not to start the... -
Are PICC Lines as Dangerous as CVCs?A recent study has shown that Peripherally Inserted Central Catheters have the same risks of infection as Central Venous Catheters, click the link below to read the entire study. It was thought prior that CVCs had a higher rate of infection than PICC so this is interesting news. To lower the risk of Catheter... -
Wearing Gloves During VenipunctureGloves are not required when assessing and looking for veins. Unless the patient's skin is not intact, you can use your bare fingers to palpate and look for a suitable vein while assessing the vasculature. Gloves are however required by OSHA to be worn for the actual venipuncture procedure. Even though they are... -
Rare Bacteria Outbreak at Outpatient Oncology FacilityInfection control today reported that a recent outbreak of a rare bacteria was tied to a lapse in infection control procedures. There was an outbreak of Tsukamurella blood stream infections, which is caused by Gram-positive bacteria and rarely effects humans. The outbreak was linked to the improper handling of saline at a West Virginia... -
IV Dwell Times and Phlebitis DevelopmentThis topic has been revisited several times by several outlets. Should IVs be left alone and not changed unless there is cause or reason to change them? Well a recent study attempted to link IV dwell times with Phlebitis development and found... "The results of this study show that catheters can be used for longer... -
Avoiding Veins With AccuVeinClinicians have told us that there are many procedures where avoiding a vein is an important goal. By avoiding veins, bleeding and bruising can be prevented during procedures. We received an email from a surgeon in France who has posted a video of his use of AccuVein to avoid veins in abdominal surgery. Please note... -
Vascular Access in Bariatric PatientsThe National Center for Health Statistics research found that 35.7% of American adults are obese. This means that approximately 1 out of every 3 Americans is classified as obese. Bariatric patients have a higher rate of numerous health risks such as gastrointestinal illnesses, cardiovascular disease and respiratory diseases just to name a few. All... -
Doctor Uses AccuVein for Help With Vascular SurgeryAn advocate of AccuVein in Brazil, Dr. Rodrigo Kikuchi, is a reknown vascular surgeon. Here's a short video that Dr. Kikuchi took showing a AccuVein being used in a foam sclerotherapy procedure to identify the vein and show the foam being injected into the vein. -
Considerations When Selecting an IV NeedleOne of the of the important considerations when starting an IV is the needle size. IV needles are sized by gauges, and the smaller the gauge number, the bigger the needle. "The goal when selecting the proper gauge of an peripheral IV catheter is to ensure that the best device meets the patient’s needs. This means taking into consideration... -
Heat Use During Peripheral IV InsertionThe Journal of Infusion Nursing reported in their November/December 2014 issue that a survey was completed that looked at the common practices regarding heat use during PIV catheter insertion. Of the 907 healthcare workers who responded, 73% reported using heat at least sometimes to facilitate IV insertion. Only 6% reported always using heat. When... -
Pediatric Nursing and the Stress of VenipunctureNurses are known for being able to stay calm under pressure; but being a pediatric nurse requires additional patience. In addition to meeting the physical needs of their patients, pediatric nurses must also educate parents while keeping even the youngest of patients calm during sometimes-painful procedures. Venipuncture can be very distressing for children, and... -
Doctor's Tip For Cannulating A Difficult Bariatric PatientCannulating a bariatric patient can be very difficult due to excess adipose tissue. It is important to do a full assessment to locate a suitable vein. AccuVein vein visualization technology can help with locating and assessing suitable veins in all patients, including those that are heavy-set or obese. But sometimes there are those cases where the veins are... -
Vein Illumination in Vascular SurgeryLocating veins is critical for many medical procedures that require vein access or avoidance. These procedures include IV starts, blood draw, sclerotherapy, general and cosmetic surgery. The AccuVein AV400 is the industry leading vein illumination device that facilitates locating peripheral vasculature by displaying a map of the vasculature directly on the patient’s skin. What are... -
Infusion Nurse Blog Article on Vein Illumination DevicesAn article about vein illumination devices was posted in April 2012 to the Infusion Nurse Blog. The article explains that the devices,"can make the venipuncture experience much more tolerable, improves patient satisfaction and eliminates sticking patients veins blindly." The Infusion Nurse Blog is written by Cora Vizcarra. Cora is a certified registered nurse in infusion... -
AccuVein Aids in Vein Graft HarvestAn article appeared in The European Journal for Plastic Surgery that describes a novel application of the AccuVein vein illumination device. The article states, "This device is ideally suited to providing a map of the superficial veins to aid vein graft harvest and other plastic surgery procedures. Vein grafts are frequently used in microsurgical anastomoses to bridge vascular... -
Possible Side Effects Cosmetic Injectables“Face lifts” have become common cosmetic surgery procedures for patients who want to minimize the appearance of aging. Most cosmetic surgery procedures are safe and effective, however, there have been reports of paralysis of facial muscles and other problems due to complications from injectables, such as Botox. What Is Botox Migration? A rare but potentially serious... -
Complications of IV TherapySome of the complications of IV therapy include: Hematoma Hypersensitivity Infiltration Extravasation Phlebitis Infection These complications can range from very minor issues to serious injury so it is important to keep an eye on the patient after beginning the administration of IV therapy. Catching the issue early can lessen the risk of serious harm. We have been told by clinicians that... -
The Use Of Alcohol SwabsHow many times should an alcohol swab be used? An alcohol swab should only be used once. Though alcohol is a disinfectant once the swab has been removed from it's package it is no longer sterile. It is important to use care while handling the swab and make sure only to use it on... -
Independent Study Finds 45% Fewer Escalations with AccuVeinUF Health Shands Hospital, a U.S. News & World Report top-ranked children’s hospital, recently completed a study which took place in six nursing units, evaluating the impact of AccuVein vein visualization on the number of times it was necessary to escalate a PIV start to central resource staff. Study results showed a 45% reduction in... -
CMS "Never Events"The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services has ongoing initiatives to control costs and improve patient care. The term "Never Event" was first introduced in 2001 by the National Quality Forum (NQF), in reference to particularly shocking medical errors (such as wrong-site surgery) that should never occur. Over time, the list has been expanded... -
Vein Visualization Recommended to Improve Safety PracticesRecently the Infusion Nurses Society convened a task force of infusion therapy experts to develop recommendations to improve health care practitioner and patient safety. The findings of this task force includes their recommendation to, "Incorporate vein visualization technology as a routine strategy for patients with poor or difficult venous access." They go on to state...
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Apply Dry Or Wet Heat To Increase Palpability?When you have a patient whose veins are not particularly palpable, sometimes it is a good idea to apply heat to the area which will increase blood flow and make the veins juicier. So would you typically reach for a warm wet rag or a dry heat source? There is a study that shows "dry... -
Australian Red Cross Looks at Vein Visualization for Blood DrawThe Australian Red Cross has done a study on the use of vein visualization for blood draw. AccuVein was among the devices they examined in the study. The key results of the study were as follows: 53.4% return donors receiving vein visualization technology report that they would be more likely to donate blood if this... -
Press Ganey Survey Included IV StartsWe know that patient satisfaction is impacted by the overall patient experience including venipuncture. The number of sticks or amount of pain experienced during this procedure has an effect on patient's scores. -
Alabama Fire Department Equips their Ambulances with Vein IlluminationHoover Alabama's Fire Department has implemented vein illumination as a standard of care because they want to be on the cutting edge of EMS. "The department bought a dozen vein finders and will put one on each of the front-line engine companies and on each of the Fire Department's three rescue units, Hambright said." Read the... -
Blood ExposureMany jobs have occupational hazards but being a nurse is one occupation that carries the possibility of blood exposure or exposure to other bodily fluids. One of the many reasons that nursing is not for the faint of heart. With roughly 385,000 annual needle stick sharps injuries in the United States it is possible... -
Vein Valves and BifurcationsWhen looking at a map of a patient's vasculature with the AccuVein AV400 vein finder you'll be able to locate valves and bifurcations. The knowledge of valve and bifurcation location allows you avoid these areas, facilitating smoother venous access. It is important to understand why this is such a great value add for the... -
Made In The U.S.A.We made the decision early on to build AccuVein in the U.S.A. This allowed us maximum control over product features, delivery and quality. Our Minnesota manufacturing facility is close enough both geographically and culturally to be flexible to our needs and the needs of our customers. And most importantly it allows us to run every...
