I am not aware of any written specific guidelines, however there would be very few differences between these patients and paitents of a more normal size. You would still follow the INS Standards of Practice for site selection and catheter selection. The difference is the catheter length as it must be long enough to pass through the skin, subq tissue and adequately purchase enough length inside the vein. However the length inside the vein should not be excessive. Most are using a 1.8 or 2 inch peripheral catheter and are inserting using ultrasound. Everything else is the same as far as all infection prevention aspects, catheter stabilization, flushing and locking, etc. Lynn
I am not aware of any written specific guidelines, however there would be very few differences between these patients and paitents of a more normal size. You would still follow the INS Standards of Practice for site selection and catheter selection. The difference is the catheter length as it must be long enough to pass through the skin, subq tissue and adequately purchase enough length inside the vein. However the length inside the vein should not be excessive. Most are using a 1.8 or 2 inch peripheral catheter and are inserting using ultrasound. Everything else is the same as far as all infection prevention aspects, catheter stabilization, flushing and locking, etc. Lynn
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, NPD-BC, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861