Peripheral Intravenous Catheter
Overview
- A small, flexible catheter designed for administering therapeutic fluids into peripheral veins.
- It is the most common form of vascular access in medicine, widely used for emergency and surgical patients, as well as prior to certain radiology imaging techniques.
Brands: PloyMed, Mediplus
Insertion
- Typically inserted into the veins of the hand or arm.
- Differentiated from:
- Central Venous Catheters: Inserted into central veins, such as the internal jugular vein in the neck or the subclavian vein in the chest.
- Arterial Catheters: Inserted into either peripheral or central arteries.
Key Factors for Size Selection
- The gauge and length of the angiocatheter should align with:
- Patient Characteristics: Age, vein condition, and cardiovascular stability.
- Therapeutic Purpose: The type of medical or surgical intervention required.
- Recommendations:
- Use the smallest gauge and shortest length suitable for the prescribed medication to minimize the risk of inflammation.
- Consider the size of the target vein when choosing the catheter.
- Large-bore catheters are often required for rapid infusion or resuscitation.
Applications
- Long-term Infusion: Used for administering solutions or combinations of medications, avoiding repeated needle insertions into veins.
- Single Injections: Scalp vein sets (butterfly needles) are typically preferred for single injections.
Features and Benefits
- Designed for intravenous drug administration.
- Prevents backflow of injected fluids.
- Enables quick and efficient blood sampling.
- Equipped with stainless steel needles for durability and reliability.
- Sterilized using ethylene oxide gas for enhanced safety.
- Available for distribution.
Angiocatheter Sizes and Color Codes
Needle Specifications
Product Categories
- Endoscopy