I work at a small surgery center and we are beginning to do total joints at our facility. I was wondering what kind of kits you use for your blocks? Could you tell us the type of kits you use and are they universal for all blocks or do you use different kits for different blocks?
Thank you for your question. We currently use the standard B-Braun Contiplex catheter trays with a 10 centimeter needle for all of our catheters except interscalene. These are a classic catheter through needle approach which we highly recommend vs. a catheter over needle technique, the latter resulting in a very high incidence of catheter tip migration in our experience. For interscalene catheters we use a Design Options Custom Contiplex Echo tray which allows us to choose exactly what supplies we want and don’t want in the tray. The main difference is that the echogenic catheter is styleted and spring wound making it kink resistant. This is very important when performing the “Hickman flip” which has a tendency to kink standard non-kink resistant catheters. I hope that helps. Cheers- Brandon
Brandon,
I am glad I am not the only one that trialed over needle catheters and had poor results. Everyone is raving about them, but I have had an interscalene and infraclavicular that migrated and confirmed with US within 24 hours. I am considering going back to through the needle for everything. What would you say your leakage rate is with Dermabond? Some of the literature says 30% for through the needle catheters, but that is not what I have seen in my practice. Thanks. Also, how do you word your discharge instructions for patient changing the rate on OnQ pump as needed?
Shane