IV Catheters

[PFD109NFD107]

Our fire department is currently working on a needlestick prevention plan. We now use needleless tubing and many of our medications now use the Ansyr type syringe. What type of protected style IV catheters are other fire departments using and how do you like them? If you have any contact information for the manufacturer it would be appreciated also. Thanks your the assistance.

[9m18]

Insyte AutoGuards. Needle retracts when you push a button. So far, so good.

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Stay Safe.
You asked for my opinion, now you have it. It's mine and mine only. Any similarity to another opinion...living or dead...is purely coincidental.

[Rescue 21]

Using the Insyte AuroGuards here also. Took a little getting used to, but nice.

[mark440]

We too have moved to the Insyte AutoGuards. I personally hate them! They are longer than the "normal" set. The newer guys tend to be nervous with it and retract the needle too early and lose the site. I like the idea, just not the style. Maybe 2 or 3 years from now I will be able to accept them. I go digging through the hospital drawers for replacements to find others than AutoGuard.

*My opinion as always

Mark

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If in doubt - Call us out

[N2DFire]

I can't say for sure what brand we are using (whatever the hospital purchasing dept. gets cheap) but they are similar to the Johnson & Johnson Protectiv (sp ?) deals where you have the little handle that slides a shield down over the needle - advancing your cath. in the process.

I (like almost everyone else in the whole county) hated them at first, but after a little practice and alteration in technique they actually work pretty good.

As for syringes & such - most of our pre-fill meds now have that port cover style needle guard. The meds we get in vials/ampules - we still draw & give the "old fashion" way with plain old needles

Take Care - Stay Safe
Stephen

[Medic4136]

well we have access to the Protectiv, these are the ones our service provides. i presonally like these very much. they can easily be used one handed( ie you can feed the cath off with the same hand you are starting the IV with) the only problem i have found with them is that it seams as if every once in awhile you get a batch of them that seam to be dull and just plain hard to get through the skin. but they are easy to use once you get the hang of them. we also are able to use the autoguards. they as said abouve have a buton that has a spring loaded retration of the needle. most of our medics have tried both and like the protectives better. the few things noted about the autoguards are.. some of the iv cath assemblys are VERY long and cumbersome. .. depending on how you hold the cath.. the retract button can be inadvertently be tripped thus retracting the needle before the cath is fed and loosing the IV. but they are safeer than the jelko.. i think is is more important to try a few in a field tesst and see what the medics prefer then train train train.. they all take some getting used to but once ya do they all will work fine for you im sure.. hope this helps.. Bob

[emt_98]

Both of my departments and the hospital where I work all use J&J angio-caths. I like them because you can use them 1 or 2 handed, when you advance the cath and retract the needle, you can hear it click so you know you're protected. I really like them and I am very comfortable using them.

[Chief 50]

We use the Protectiv with the retracting sheeth on our IV lines. They are ok. Some of our medics have had problems with the needle starting to retract prematurely. We use saline locks for our Medical patients where fluid resuscitation isnt an issue. For that, we prefer the Intima needles. You can put a cap on the "Y" connector. Then you withdraw the needle through a plastic stopper that seals itself. Its great for keeping down any blood and the needle is covered to prevent sticks. Thanks for the opportunity to have input.

[Mike Pirie]

We switched from Insyte caths to ProtectIV catheters and I think their great. Everything we use is needle-less. We have not had any incidents of needlestick injuries from an IV catheter since switching over.

Mike, Paramedic/FF

[ALSfirefighter]

We also use the ProtectIv, needalus (can't remember how its actually spelled) system. I have to say that I liked it from the beginning but a few of my comrade's didn't. I tried to use the AutoGuards, with the spring loaded needle retractor and didn't and still do not like it. Hit the button at the wrong time and you've got a mess, and even worse no IV access. While I still like a nice gelco here and there, I have to say it is nicer to be able to drop the cath on the floor when done in the bus when your in a rush. The Protectiv, has a nice large advancement tab, and I like the clear cannulas to see if you maintained a good flash or infiltrated. The only down side to the stick prevention caths, is you can't remove the hub anymore to do a glucocheck. Plus you either need to still purchase Gelco's or similiar Caths if you do not have a decompression kit. Which by the way we also have as well as the Cric kit, and they are fantastic!!! Good luck and be safe all.

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The above is my opinion only and does not reflect on those of any dept./agency I work for, deal with, or am a member of. http://www.firehouse.com/forums/biggrin.gif

[Canmedic]

We use the Protectiv here also. I initially I disliked it, and kept blowing IVs; I think it takes some getting used to. We also use the Baxter Inter-link system, but most guys still use the old needle method.

Mike Kesthely
FF/EMT-P
Lethbridge Fire Dept.

[dousaems]

Most of my services have been using the J&J Protectiv catheters for the past few years. I like them, since they have that nice big tab to retract the needle. On eof my services has tried the spring loaded ones, and while it almost guarantees the needle being sheathed, one slip and you are done. I am not a real big fan of them, and have been trying to get used to them for about a year now.
I found a modified way to do a blood sample if you hook up your line and forget to do the glucose stick: Get the blood out of the flash chamber with a needle and TB syringe. Works really well (especially on the Protectivs) for those times you really wanted to get a glucose, but have a real touchy line, or just plain forget. I try to do it on a limited basis, but it has come in handy.


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Todd Dousa
NREMT-P, CCEMT-P

[fyrmedik]

We have used the Johnson & Johnson ProtectIV catheters for about 4 years now. I don't have any problems using them. Excellent product.

[EMT_Wub]

We currently use a mixture on jelcos and Johnson and Johnson ProtectIV cathethers. I was trained in Intermediate class to use the jelcos, and the switch to the ProtectIV was easy. I think they are easier to thread, and it is nice to know you won't get stuck when you hear the click. By the way, a nice shortcut for doing a blood sugar with the ProtectIV's. After getting a good flashback, and securing the needle, you can take an inkpen and press the tip onto the foam pad on the base of the handle, and it will force a drop of blood onto the strip. and you dont have to worry about getting stuck using a TB syringe

[FireEmeraldSoc]

Try this with your "ProtectIV". Take a small point, like an ink pen and press in on the white plastic cap at the top end of the flash chamber. You can still get a blood sample for the Glucostick. It will come out of the end of the ProtectVI sheath.

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Lt. Keith Schumacher
Atlanta Fire Department EMS Training Coordinator
Atlanta Fire Academy
407 Ashwood Ave., SE
Atlanta, GA 30315
(404) 624-0650, Ext. #20
Fax (404) 624-0657
E-Mail FESMA1@aol.com
President,
Firefighters Emerald Society of Metro Atlanta
www.FireEmeraldSociety.com

[emt1050]

My department uses the J&J ProtectIv caths. They are very easy to use and I really like them. Plus it is very comforting to hear the needle click as it locks safely. A tip on getting a blood sample for the glucose accu-check, use the tip of an ink pen and press on the white air-permeable stopper at the end of the flash chamber...this will give you a sample easily.

--Josh

[PFD109NFD107]

Thanks for the info! I got some samples in today of the J&J Protectiv Acuvance caths. They seem pretty neat although I haven't had a chance to use them yet

[keahi520]

Most of our volunteers and career people are liking the Protec-O-Caths...a retractable needle that clicks into a plastic barrel as you advance the catheter into the vein. We too, in Baltimore County Maryland, are switching to the needle-less medication ports.

[ALSfirefighter]

I just wanted to ask, and I forgot in my original post...

Has anyone else noticed that sometimes it is difficult to tamponade the vein you venipunctured and release the needle system from the hub of the catheter? Sometimes it seems as if those things are welded on. LOL

Thanks!!!

[N2DFire]

ALSfirefighter,
Yes, Yes, and YES. Gawd that is about the one big "drawback" to these Angio's I have found so far.

Around here it's become an unspoken SOP to give the hub of the cath a little twist before use to make sure it's not stuck so tightly to the needle.

Since we started this I have had very little trouble when disconnecting the needle.

Take Care - Stay Safe
Stephen
FF/Paramedic

[PHMEDIC93]

We use intercan's with the protector that slides out when the needle is withdrawn from the catheter. They require very little additional training. You should put a finger on the hub when you pull the needle just because it tends to get a little hung for a tad. Not a big deal though. They seem to be working well, and they are seem to be nice and sharp. Unlike some of the other caths I've used.

[loulou]

I learned on a protect-o-cath type system and that has always been my cath of choice. After getting my cert. I worked in a er as a tech for extra experience and would start around 25 ivs/locks per shift and became quite profecient with the one hand method. The tip about spinning the hub is most helpful, it is the first step of my routine before using one and I rarley have a problem. Some older medics I work with that learned on "Jelco" type caths look like they have boxing gloves on when trying to use the protect-o-cath type, likewise, I feel like I have them on when using the "Jelco" type. Based on that, don't buy the excuse that it's the cath's fault your medics are missing the IV's when you switch, it takes practice and effort to use something different than what you were trained on and have used for years. It is safer for your medics and they should understand that. If they want to be good medics they will force themselves to use different tools and techniques, even try starting ivs with there other had in non-emergency conditions, you never know when they may have no choice but to use it......

good luck and stay safe!

[Litch]

I work for a hospital based system. We are using the Insyte Autogard catheters and the Clave connectors for our needleless systems. The catheters took some getting used to as they are much longer than before. The manufacturer's rep who did our inservice said that it is necessary to loosen the catheter on the stylet by giving it a full turn before inserting. The drug companies are supplying some of the meds as either needleless or with needles that can be removed, but a number still come with needles or have to be drawn up with a needle.