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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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... -
Avoiding Inadvertent Arterial PunctureThough it is rare to puncture an artery in an attempt to cannulate a vein, it does happen. The brachial artery is located near the basilic vein, and is one that is of importance since it is in an area that may be selected for venipuncture. Because arteries are deeper than veins these events... -
Avoiding Nerves During VenipunctureIt is important to avoid nerves while performing venipuncture. Knowing where they are located and how they differ from the vasculature can assist a clinician in identifying and avoiding nerves while performing venipuncture. Two nerves that are located in common areas for venipuncture are the radial and median nerves. "The radial nerve passes along... -
FDA Suggests Injectors Familiarize Themselves With The Patient's Anatomy"The FDA is alerting health care providers and consumers about the possibility of rare, but serious, injuries that may occur due to unintentional injection of soft tissue filler into blood vessels in the face". New labeling requirements have been implemented by the FDA regarding soft tissue fillers and with these changes the FDA suggests: "Make sure... -
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... -
Patient Study Reveals that Vein Illumination Improves SatisfactionWe asked a large group of patients to share their thoughts about the use of vein illumination technology. We wanted to understand its impact on how a patient would perceive the quality of a hospital or clinic. Patient satisfaction is a key measurement of success. Learn what patients said about Improving Patient Satisfaction After seeing a... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
Tourniquet Time for PIV Blood DrawQuestions are often posed about whether to wait until all blood samples are collected before releasing the tourniquet and applying the dressing to the IV site. The 2016 Infusion Therapy Standards of Practice does state that tourniquet time should be limited to 1 minute. Find out more information about why from Cora Vizcarra in her Infusion... -
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... -
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... -
Should Infusion Teams be part of Acute Care Hospitals?Infusion therapy is invasive and touches virtually all patients entering the hospital. Given its importance, the current rates of infusion therapy complications, as well as the costs and the waste associated with it, a thorough assessment should be made of a facility’s’ outcomes related to infusion services. This is the opinion expressed in an... -
Nursery Expansion Includes State-of-the-Art EquipmentAn article ran today in the online edition of the Summerville Patch highlighting the expansion of the nursery at Summerville Medical Center (Scott's account!) in South Carolina. The article mentions their advanced technology, including an Accuvein device that reduces the number of IV and blood draw sticks in neonates. Read the article here -
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... -
Using AccuVein Near MRIThe AccuVein vein illumination device uses two moving mirrors to create its projection. These mirrors take the single laser spot and make the projection rectangle you’re familiar with. The laser is only pointing at one spot at any given time, but since it moves so fast, your eye sees it as a rectangle. Since... -
Don't Touch Your FaceTouching your face is a common behavior and it can be difficult to realize it is happening. By touching your face you can be exposing yourself to contaminants from your surroundings and/or exposing your patients to illness if you are not well. " A behavioral observation study was undertaken involving medical students at the University of... -
IV Access Technique: HoodingWhat is hooding you ask? Hooding is an IV access technique where the catheter leads in entering the vessel as opposed to the needle. This technique is used to possibly reduce the chance of potential puncture of the vessel wall. It was back when my healthcare system changed over to a new IV catheter that...
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Challenges Facing Hospital ExecutivesWhen you are talking with hospital executives you've got only a few minutes and you want to hit the key points as quickly as you can. The hard-hitting slides from Scott's presentation are a perfect platform for discussion. You can access Scott's presentation, Challenges Facing Hospital Executives, -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
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... -
Long Term Care Hospital Readmissions An Issue… Adopt Vein Illumination!At long term care facilities access to veins can mean the difference between keeping the patient in the facility and being forced to readmit them to the hospital. Venipuncture is the most common invasive medical procedure and is increasingly difficult on the elderly. Attempts for access can fail and in the geriatric patient group these... -
Long Term Care Facility Sees Improvement with AccuVeinSt. James Rehabilitation and Healthcare is a top sub acute healthcare service, short-term rehabilitation and long term care facility in New York with 230 beds. Of the facility’s residents, 99% come directly from an acute care hospital and the average age of a resident at the facility is 83 years old. These residents tend...
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Re-siting PIVs - based on time or indications?Many facilities have policies requiring clinicians to remove and re-site a Peripheral IV within a given period of time. As a clinician, have you ever wondered if this is actually helps the patient avoid complications? The CDC's Guidelines for the Prevention of Intravascular Catheter related Infections indicates that: 1. There is no need to replace peripheral... -
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... -
"Perfect Your IV Starts" Article Suggests Vein Viewing TechnologyThe June issue of Outpatient Surgery Magazine includes the article "Perfect Your IV Starts". Under "#3 Inspect for Your Best Target", the article suggests, "Vein-viewing technology can make your job easier. Using infrared light, these portable devices project a real-time digital image of the vein pattern right on the patient's skin." You can access this... -
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...
