Forum topic

Our acute care facility uses the gripper plus needle with a y-site by Smiths Medical.  This needle has a great safety activation, however, there are several problems. 

1. A tinge of blood can never be cleared where the needle transitions to the tubing.

2. With the y-site you are constantly having to flush and clamp, flush and clamp because blood gets stuck in the y.

3. The plastic safety piece on top causes the dressings to sit higher and it does make it more difficult to keep them secured to the skin.

We have the IR dept. placing CT injectable ports, whereas, they have bundled the needle and the port together and received FDA approval for the two devices to be used together (for CT injections).  Now the surgeons in the OR are looking at using a different manufacturer and along with it comes another needle.

Now I'm not opposed to several different needles, however, is this how all facilities managing multiple kinds and useage of ports?  Neither port company will state that you can use another needle in their port because this is how their testing was done.

Is there a better needle out there?

How many acute facilities use a y-site?  Our nurses like it so you do not have to disconnect to draw blood.