Recently two members of our IV team were unable to obtain access on a mother in active labor. The anesthesiologist came to help and he did something that I have never seen before and I wanted to find out if anyone has used this technique. I have been an IV nurse for 33 years and never used this technique. The anesthesiologist opened many packages of alcohol and was squeezing the alcohol onto the top of the patient's hand, soaking her hand. He continued soaking the hand and massaging the hand. I know that stroking the vein causes the vein to fill, but the IV nurses that attempted the patient had been stroking the mother's hands too. We asked the anesthesiologist what made it work for him, and he said the alcohol dilates the veins. Does it? Has anyone used this in their practice? Just curious - he got an 18G in her when all we saw were small capillaries. :(
I've used the alcohol rub to dilate veins for years. I can't say if its the alcohol rub or the lubrication with down ward stroking, but whatever it does work for me. If the alcohol rub is gel it can even work to help visualize the veins. The alcohol has to be removed with the insertion site clean and dry before sticking. But to answer your question, yes I use it and it has been helpful. Never saw any literature or studies, just something I figured out on my own.
I also routinely use alcohol pads to help dilate vessels. Not only does it start to clean the skin and make vessels visible, but it seems to work as a natural dilator and helps vessels to fill. Same reason why when you consume an alcoholic beverage your nose and cheeks flush. Works for me.
Kelly Rolfsen RN CRNI
Franciscan St Francis
Indianapolis, IN
I don't think there is any evidence saying that isopropyl alcohol applied topically will cause venous dilation similar to what is caused when you drink or infuse ethanol. But I have heard of using wet alcohol and povidone iodine to cause the vein to be more easily seen. More than likely this is due to the shine surface created or to the vigorous scrubbing. Or it could be that cold alcohol causes venous constriction and the dilation is caused by the rubbing. 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