I do not know where you will find info to support the doc's needs but we have the same senario here. Our anesthesiologist want an 18g catheter inserted for surgery. If you don't feel you can get an 18g in they will accept a 20g. Their feel they want a large gauge if needed for resusitation if needed. Also they free flow everything and they like a good rate, not that you can't do this with a smaller gauge. About four years ago I got in 19g huber needles for our port patients who go to the OR. Prior to this the anesthesiologists insisted on starting a separate peripheral line. You know a lot of patients with ports do not have good veins for peripherals. Margaret M Nicastro, CRNI, OCN Coorordinator IV Therapy/Oncology Gettysburg Hospital 147 Gettys Street Gettysburg, PA 17325 Phone: 717-337-4312 Fax: 717-337-4485
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Heather Nichols Sent: Thu 1/19/2006 7:37 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: prescribed therapy? I was reading through my INS Standards of Practice today ( no I was not bored) to try to get some info to decrease my anesthesiologist "bigger is better", way of thinking. It is said that catheter selection should be the smallest gauge and shortest length, that will accommodate the prescribed therapy. Could anyone tell me where I might find the "prescribed therapy" for the size of catheter needed for a patient going in for surgery? Is there any info out there to support the doc's need for an 18 or 16 gauge short peripheral in a vein that is in no way big enough to support it? The doc's tell me it is for possible resuscitation purposes, but the flow rates on the peripheral catheters we use do not make enough of a difference to support this either. I know I am probably fighting a losing battle, but I need to know either way. My patients are the one's being made to suffer for what seems to be archaic practice. Heather Nichols RN BSN CRNI Infusion Services University of Louisville Trauma Institute 530 S. Jackson St. Lou. Ky. 40202 (502)562-3530 ----------------------------------------------------- Confidentiality Disclaimer This message, including any attachments, is confidential, intended only for the named recipient(s) and may contain information that is privileged or exempt from disclosure under applicable law, including PHI (Protected Health Information) covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. If you receive this message in error, or are not the named recipient(s), please notify the sender or contact the University of Louisville Health Care I.S. helpdesk at 502.562.3637 to report an inadvertently received message. CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: This email may contain confidential health information that is legally privileged. This information is intended for the use of the named recipient(s). The authorized recipient of this information is prohibited from disclosing this information to any party unless required to do so by law or regulation and is required to destroy the information after its stated need has been fulfilled. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution, or action taken in reliance on the contents of this email is strictly prohibited. If you receive this e-mail message in error, please notify the sender immediately to arrange disposition of the information.
