A public service announcement from
The Nephron Information Center.
Please feel free to print and
show to your nurse or phlebotomist.
Photo taken with a
SONY infrared camera.
Please be careful with my veins
Download Printable Version
- Attention: To nurses
or phlebotomist who are about to start an iv or draw blood
on me.
Someday, I may need hemodialysis. That is best performed through an A-V fistula. The fistula lasts longer
than the other types of access, has a lower incidence of infection,
and does not have a higher incidence of clotting with EPO (Erythropoietin).
However, it takes months to mature.
- If I develop phlebitis or scars in
my veins, the surgeons may never be able to create a sucessful
fistula on me.
- Therefore, if you need blood, or need
to start an iv, here is the dorsum of my hand. If you must stick
me several times, please rotate the sites.
- Especially, stay away from the cephalic
vein of my non-dominant hand (the entire hand, especially my
wrist-radial cephalic). (I usually wear my wristwatch on my non-dominant
hand).
- I am trying to exercise
to make my veins bigger.
- Remember, many of the iv solutions
that you are about to give me may be very irritating to my veins.
- Try to minimize needle sticks. If you
need blood and an iv infusion, get both at the same time. If
you must draw blood or give me injections, please use a #23 needle.
- For more information go to links.nephron.com
