EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT
VASCULAR ACCESS CASES
Emergency Department Vascular Access Cases highlight some of the interesting Nurse Clinicians in Action cases that Vascular Wellness clinicians have encountered and participated in treatment. Our clinicians perform standard and advanced vascular access procedures including PICCs, Internal Jugulars, Mid-Thigh Femorals, Axillaries, Quad Lumens, Vas-Caths, Perm Caths, and Tunneled Central Lines at the bedside, enabling prompt therapy and treatment for our patients. We provide efficient and creative solutions for Emergency Department patients’ complex and emergent needs, and can often be the best and most responsive vascular access option available.
Bilateral Amputation Requires Emergent Vascular Access | NCIA-26
Emergent Vascular Access for Patient Transport | NCIA-19
VASCULAR ACCESS FOR SEPSIS PROTOCOL | NCIA-28
Emergency Department Vascular Access Cases: A Skilled Nursing Facility resident with a fever of unknown origin was transported to the Emergency Department and needed vascular access to begin a sepsis protocol of treatment. Unfortunately, the patient was not only dehydrated, but also severely contracted in the bilateral upper extremities, making vascular access very difficult. Multiple Emergency Department nurses and physicians attempted traditional and ultrasound guided IV access without success. A Vascular Wellness clinician was already on site for another patient, and was approached to assist in this difficult situation. The clinician recommended a Midline, which was approved by the treating physician. The Vascular Wellness clinician carefully and quickly placed the Midline on the first attempt. During the insertion, the clinician was able to obtain blood samples for laboratory analysis and a set of blood cultures in furtherance of the treating protocol, and initial therapies could be delivered without any further delays.
Patient with 14 Failed Peripheral IV Sticks | NCIA-08
Emergency Department Vascular Access Cases: A patient in the Emergency Department needed a PIV for blood work, but the Emergency Department physicians had 14 failed attempts at achieving vascular access, due largely to the fact that the patient was heavy-set with deeper veins. The patient became very angry and frustrated from the many painful sticks, and vascular access still had not been achieved. Having used up 14 expensive PIV kits, the hospital contacted Vascular Wellness for help. A Vascular Access Board Certified (VA-BC) nurse clinician arrived and quickly focused on calming the patient and earning his trust before proceeding. The clinician took the time to explain the procedure, how he would use ultrasound guidance to visualize exactly where the vein was, and how it ensured he would be successful on the first attempt. With permission, he demonstrated how he could see veins in the arm clearly with the ultrasound. The clinician offered lidocaine to numb the area, but the patient felt so comfortable at that point that he declined. After vascular access was achieved, the patient thanked the Vascular Wellness clinician and said, “Where were you 2 hours ago?”
ULTRASOUND GUIDANCE INSUFFICIENT FOR DIVA PATIENT | NCIA-45
Emergency Department Vascular Access Cases: This case took place in the Emergency Department of a Hospital where a patient was being treated with a suspected case of sepsis and needed vascular access for lab work and IV therapies. The nurses and physicians tried numerous times to place a peripheral IV using ultrasound guidance but were unsuccessful. The patient was extremely contracted bilaterally, making the veins very difficult to cannulate. With the patient’s condition worsening, the care team knew they needed to get vascular access quickly and noticed a couple Vascular Wellness vascular access clinicians who were taking care of another patient nearby. The care team quickly asked if the Vascular Wellness clinicians could come over as soon as they were done and assist with this sepsis patient. The nurse clinicians arrived, expertly assessed the patient’s vasculature using ultrasound guidance to determine the best approach, and determined a Midline in the upper left arm would be the best option for the patient. They quickly and successfully completed the vascular access procedure on the first attempt, and with the Midline in place, the care team was able to begin treatment without further delay.
EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT Vascular Access Cases:
Key Points
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Mid-Thigh Femoral Vascular Access Services
NURSE CLINICIANS IN ACTION case summaries involve challenging situations or intriguing clinical presentations where Vascular Wellness was able to create clinically appropriate access promptly, minimize sticks, and place the right line at the right time, the first time.
Find More NURSE CLINICIANS IN ACTION Case Summaries by clicking below
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Vascular Wellness provides comprehensive, quality, timely, and innovative vascular access services, including standard and advanced line placement, pediatrics, program management, education, training, and infection control and prevention to all healthcare settings such as Tertiary Hospitals, Community Hospitals, Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals, Hospital at Home Programs, Skilled Nursing Facilities, Surgical and Outpatient Centers, Hospice, and At-Home care. We support a 98+% Success Rate with 0% Insertion-Related Infection Rate across all lines, with an average response time of 3 hours. We help our clients improve patient outcomes, enable faster therapy, reduce costs, infections, and readmissions, decrease hospital length of stay, and reduce transportation expenses.
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224 High House Rd
STE 210
Cary, NC 27513
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