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Venipuncture - Indications and Procedure

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Venipuncture is the procedure of acquiring intravenous access for various purposes. Refer to this article to know in detail.

Medically reviewed by

Dr. Kaushal Bhavsar

Published At December 14, 2022
Reviewed AtMarch 15, 2023

Introduction

Venipuncture is acquiring intravenous access, typically for taking blood samples. An open needle is placed via the skin and into a superficial vein, generally in the cubital fossa (an area of transition between the anatomical arm and the forearm). Blood is collected into vacated pipes. This venipuncture principle delivers a step-by-step process for executing venipuncture, with an enclosed video demonstration.

The regulation concerns venipuncture utilizing vacutainer bottles, so measures may conflict. Nevertheless, blood analysis is a powerful diagnostic instrument in healthcare.

Blood is typically acquired from the superficial veins of the superior limb. The median cubital vein, which is present inside the cubital fossa in front of the elbow, is near the skin surface without multiple extensive nerves arranged adjacent to it.

Different veins can be utilized in the cubital fossa for venipuncture. Slight amounts of blood may be brought by finger stick sampling and gathered from infants utilizing heel prick or scalp veins with a winged infusion needle. Phlebotomy, also known as an incision into the vein, is therapy for specific disorders like hemochromatosis and primary and secondary polycythemia.

What Is Venipuncture?

It is punching a vein as a section of a medical process, generally to get a blood sample or for intravenous injection. In a hospital, this process is achieved by laboratory scientists, medical practitioners, phlebotomists (who take samples of blood for testing), dialysis technicians, or nursing staff. In veterinary medicine, it is done by veterinarians and their technicians.

Observing a standard method for obtaining blood specimens is important to obtain accurate laboratory results. Any mistake in getting and gathering the blood sample or loading the test tubes may result in false laboratory results.

Venipuncture is one of the standard daily executed invasive processes and is holding out for the following reasons,

1. To acquire blood for diagnostic intentions.

2. To incorporate therapeutic remedies, including drugs, nourishment, or chemotherapy.

3. To release blood due to an extra amount of iron or erythrocytes, which means red blood cells.

4. To collect blood for later use, the primary use is transfusion, done in both donors and other patients.

5. A blood examination is an effective diagnostic mechanism known to clinicians within healthcare.

How Is Venipuncture Performed?

In the therapy room, organize every instrument required for the procedure nearby. Initially, the operator should decontaminate the hands and prepare and arrange all the devices near the operation site. Then cleanse the device, location, and plastic tray with a suitable aseptic agent permitting it to dry thoroughly.

Assemble the remaining devices into the tray on the trolley and proceed to the patients. The tools needed contain a needle, tourniquet, suitable bottles for blood, Chlorhexidine wipes, cotton ball with tape, and a sharps bin. Verify the patient's identity, decontaminate the hands and place the patient's arm under a pillow. Apply the tourniquet (a device for stopping blood flow through a vein or artery), prefer an appropriate vein, release the tourniquet and proceed with the process.

The procedure involves,

  • Cleaning the puncture site with a sterile wipe like Chloroprene, allowing it to dry thoroughly under the air.
  • The tourniquet should be applied. Caution should be taken not to re-touch or palpate the sterilized area.
  • Keep the traction on to the region below the planned puncture area, and slowly enter the needle with a bevel up at an angle of thirty degrees to the puncture area.
  • Slowly extend the needle. While doing this, they will release the traction on the skin.
  • Connect it to a blood sample bottle and thus load up the blood to the required level and invert the bottle immediately after it is removed. It should be done in each bottle.
  • After loading and removing all the bottles, they will remove the tourniquet, keep a cotton ball on the punctured area, and gradually remove the needle.
  • After discarding the needle into the sharp bin, they will apply direct pressure on the puncture site for about one minute and place tape on it.
  • After this, they should discard all the waste from this procedure and ensure that the patient is stable and comfortable. They were followed by sending the sample bottle with a form for blood testing.

In cases of failure to obtain the blood sample, they will remove the needle and should repeat the whole procedure.

How Is Venipuncture Performed in Children?

  • Usage of Lidocaine iontophoresis (a procedure of topical anesthesia where Lidocaine is delivered into the skin under the influence of electric current) effectively decreases aches and relieves despair during venipuncture in children. A needle-free powder Lignocaine delivery method has been established to reduce the discomfort of venipuncture in children. Immediate dermal anesthesia can be executed by local anesthetic infiltration. Still, it produces anxiety in children disturbed by needles or misinterprets the skin, creating vascular reach more challenging and advancing the hazard of needle disclosure to healthcare staffers.
  • Dermal anesthesia can also be performed without using needles by applying topically local anesthetics. In distinction, noninvasive dermal anesthesia can be inducted in five to fifteen minutes without misinterpreting the surrounding tissues by Lidocaine iontophoresis. In these cases, a direct electric current stimulates the dermal involvement of positively charged Lidocaine components if kept near the positive electrode. However, few investigations supposed that the iontophoretic incorporation of Lidocaine was secure and influential in delivering dermal anesthesia for venipuncture in kids between six to seventeen years old. Therefore, this method is not appropriate for all kids. Prospective investigations may provide a statement on the lowest effective iontophoretic dosage for dermal anesthesia in kids and compare the effectiveness and fulfillment of Lidocaine iontophoresis with topical anesthetic creams and subcutaneous infiltration.
  • Non-pharmacological therapies for aches and discomfort connected with venipuncture in kids involve hypnosis and distraction. This management decreased self-reported distress, and when blended with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), the deduction of aches was even more prominent. However, other procedures are not so productive, and this recommendation, like distracting parent education, did not debate the management of pain and discomfort.

Conclusion:

Venipuncture is receiving intravenous access; typically, this is done to pursue blood sampling. A hollow needle is placed via the skin and into a superficial vein. Blood is then loaded into evacuated tubes. In addition, there are certain advancements in pain management in children.

Frequently Asked Questions

1.

What Are the Three Standard Methods of Venipuncture?

The three methods of venipuncture include: - Syringe Method - It is used when small amounts of blood need to be drawn and when the patient has fragile or small veins. - Vacuum Tube Method - This method is beneficial when collecting multiple vials of blood.  - Butterfly Method - This method is more appropriate for those who have difficult veins to access, such as elderly people, cancer patients, and children.

2.

Is Phlebotomy the Same as Venipuncture?

Venipuncture is a procedure that involves puncturing a vein with a needle for any medical reason, while phlebotomy is venipuncture done especially to obtain blood samples for study.

3.

What Is the Objective of Venipuncture?

Venipuncture is a routine procedure that is generally performed for one of the following reasons: - To monitor levels of different blood components. - To take blood samples for diagnostic reasons. - To administer treatment intravenously, including medications, chemotherapy, or nutrition. - To remove blood because of excess levels of iron or erythrocytes.

4.

Where Are the Sites of Venipuncture?

The five common sites of venipuncture are: - Wrist. - Dorsum of the hand. - Forearm. - Foot. - Antecubital fossa (the triangular-shaped depression on the anterior surface of the elbow). It is the most common site for venipuncture.

5.

Which Are Unacceptable Sites for Venipuncture?

Some sites should be avoided for venipuncture due to the risk of unnecessary pain or complications. These include: - Mastectomy - The risk of infection increases if the arm on the side of the mastectomy is used. - Hematomas or Edematous Sites or Tattoo - There is a risk of specimen contamination with tattoo ink or tissue fluid. - Artery - Venous blood is preferred as the risk of prolonged bleeding is there if the blood is drawn from the artery.

6.

What Are the Side Effects of Venipuncture?

The most common side effect of venipuncture is minor bruising, pain, and hematoma (collection of blood outside blood vessels). Other complications include excessive bleeding, iatrogenic anemia, edema (swelling), thrombus (blood clot), nerve damage, fear, and phobia.

7.

Who Can Perform Venipuncture?

Venipuncture can be performed by healthcare professionals, including medical practitioners, medical laboratory scientists, phlebotomists, and other nursing staff. A registered nurse is an essential staff member whose skills are required while drawing blood.

8.

Which Are the Most Common Veins Used for Venipuncture?

The median cubital vein found in the antecubital fossa is the most common vein used for venipuncture due to its accessibility and size. The neighboring basilic and cephalic veins are the next sites of choice for venipuncture.

9.

Which Vein Should Be Avoided for Venipuncture?

According to research, the veins to the front of the wrist should not be used for venipuncture due to the presence of tendons and nerves close to the surface. Drawing blood from these veins might subject the patient to nerve, artery, tendon, and bone injuries.

10.

What to Do if an Artery Is Punctured Unintentionally During Venipuncture?

If an artery is hit accidentally during venipuncture, the following steps should be taken: - Stop the procedure immediately and avoid drawing blood from a different injection site. - Remove the needle or syringe from the injection site. - Try to elevate the wound and apply pressure on the site. This will help control the bleeding. - Seek medical help.

11.

How Many Venipuncture Attempts Are Allowed?

Only two venipuncture attempts on an adult patient and one attempt on children are allowed. After two unsuccessful attempts, the procedure should stop, and the reason for unsuccessful attempts should be assessed to avoid those in the future.

12.

Is Venipuncture Painful?

Pain at the injection site is the most common side effect of venipuncture. However, the degree of pain may vary from person to person. In general, venipuncture is not a painful procedure and causes only slight discomfort.
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Dr. Kaushal Bhavsar
Dr. Kaushal Bhavsar

Pulmonology (Asthma Doctors)

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