critical care medicine
How To Do Peripheral Vein Cannulation
Warnings and Common Errors for Peripheral Vein Cannulation
Use only mild tension when applying the tourniquet; it is a venous, not an arterial, tourniquet. If the vein is not entered, do not try to reposition the needle by moving the tip to one side or another; this can push the vein out of the way and also damage tissue. Instead, withdraw the needle almost to the skin surface before changing the angle and direction of insertion. Never withdraw the catheter back over the needle or reinsert the needle into the catheter. Doing so could shear off the catheter tip within the patient. If fluid does not flow freely, do not continue infusion attempts; this can cause extravasation and hematoma formation. 