How often is venous spasm encountered? I am a new memeber on a VAT, about 1 year experience now, and i have a partner who often links unsuccessful insertions with venous spasm. Some weeks it seems more frequent than others......I guess I am questioning whether all of these veins were truly spasming or if the inserter may not be using all the tools correctly/definitively?
You did not say what type of VAD insertion is being used. Yes, I do think this level of venous spasm could be happening. You need to understand how vein anatomy is structured, how the nervous system interacts with veins, understand the influence of medical diagnoses and all medications on the vascular and nervous system. But, venipuncture technique can certainly increase the risk of this happening. Smooth muscle in wall does not require much to cause contraction, for long periods, with very little energy used.
Lynn Hadaway, M.Ed., RN, CRNI
Lynn Hadaway Associates, Inc.
PO Box 10
Milner, GA 30257
Website http://www.hadawayassociates.com
Office Phone 770-358-7861