As a result of normal physiological variation, some individuals may have small, thin, or hard-to-find veins, making it a challenge for even an experienced medical lab technician to draw blood. This can sometimes be a result of dehydration, which causes the body to constrict its blood vessels.
If you have been to a clinic or lab before and had the phlebotomist stick you more than once for a blood draw, you may have been told that you are a "difficult stick." This can happen to people for quite a few different reasons, including small or deep veins, rolling veins, dehydration, collapsing veins, constricted ...
Ask for assistance from another phlebotomist or medical professional. If you cannot successfully locate a vein on a hard stick patient, don't hesitate to ask for help. Depending on the healthcare facility, there may be protocols in which other medical personnel must assist.
When you drink a glass of water, it takes approximately 15 minutes for your body to absorb the fluid. However, when you're dehydrated, it can take about three times as long (45 minutes) for fluids to make their way from the stomach into the bloodstream and to the rest of the body.
Most veins don't roll, but every nurse has dealt with ones that do. You can end up missing a vein because when you tried to stick it, it rolled to one side and completely disappeared. To prevent that from happening, first try palpating to determine if the vein rolls, and if so, which direction it's more likely to go.
What if no blood flows when the needle is in place? The needle may not be in a vein. Try slightly manipulating the needle. If no blood flows, withdraw the needle and repeat the venipuncture.
When blood isn't flowing properly, your extremities will fluctuate in temperature. The restricted blood flow is what causes the numbness, and the blood not being able to return to the heart properly can cause swelling. Your skin might also appear pale or blue because of a lack of blood flow.
Dehydration can cause blood vessels to constrict, which can cause the veins to appear more prominent. Therefore, staying hydrated may help to reduce the visibility of bulging veins.
Which of the following might cause no blood to flow during venipuncture? The needle may be too deep or too shallow.
Avoid taking blood from a peripheral cannula that is already in situ as this may collapse / damage the vein or affect the sample through haemolysis, dilution or contamination.
A blood clot in a leg vein may cause pain, warmth and tenderness in the affected area. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) occurs when a blood clot (thrombus) forms in one or more of the deep veins in the body, usually in the legs. Deep vein thrombosis can cause leg pain or swelling. Sometimes there are no noticeable symptoms.
The good news is that yes, veins can heal themselves, however, only to a certain degree. When veins are damaged they can take years to repair. Even when this occurs, healed veins never recover completely. At most, a damaged vein will only ever regain a portion of its previous blood-circulating capabilities.
Without treatment, vein damage can lead to significant and even life-threatening consequences.
c. The person drawing blood should not make more than two venipuncture attempts on one patient. After two unsuccessful attempts, notify the nurse or doctor by completing a “Report of Unsuccessful Attempt to Draw” form (Attachment A). The phlebotomist and the patients nurse sign the form.
What does a blown vein look like? The area around your blown vein may appear red or purple. This is because some blood has leaked out of your vein and pooled under your skin. The discoloration is temporary and should go away within a couple of weeks.
A patient can be a difficult stick for any number of reasons, like dehydration, a history of intravenous drug use, or obesity. Underweight and premature infants are particularly difficult candidates for normal peripheral IV access because their veins are simply so small.
If your phlebotomy specialist says it is OK to drink water before getting blood drawn, try to drink the recommended daily amount of water, which is 64 ounces. Before you donate, drink a glass of water that's about 16 ounces. Although getting your blood drawn can be stressful, it doesn't have to be.
Thick blood is usually a symptom that the body is dehydrated, putting veins at greater risk of clotting and insufficiency. Bloating and swelling are two other common symptoms of dehydration and also typically signs of inefficient blood flow, leading to more severe complications.