Hitting a valve when drawing blood. Blown veins are usually called ruptured veins by .
Hitting a valve when drawing blood A trick to float/advance past that point or pull back. Nov 14, 2025 · As a phlebotomy technician, your primary responsibility is to obtain blood specimens from patients. Doing so will stabilize the vein and prevent the vein from rolling. Jan 28, 2018 · 12 Once you hit the vein and see flashback of blood in the flashback chamber, STOP advancing the catheter and drop your angle of approach This is necessary for avoiding puncturing the vein wall again. Abstract Background Venipuncture is one of the one of the most commonly performed, minimally-invasive procedures; however, it may lead to peripheral nerve injury. Drop your angle of approach as you advance the catheter a little bit more. Use your flush to pull back to draw blood, pulling the valve open with pressure. However, treating And if you are hitting a valve, you will generally need to remove the needle, and slowly pull back the catheter away from the valve wall while aspirating with a syringe. Jun 10, 2024 · Common Complications During Blood Collection Hematoma A hematoma is a collection of blood outside of a blood vessel, usually caused by a puncture or injury to a vein during blood collection. Always tell your provider if you feel pain or discomfort during a needle insertion. If the needle is IN the valve, you won’t get any blood flow. 2. While a blown vein isn’t serious, it needs about 10 to 12 days to heal before your provider can use it again. In addition, if you hit a valve, you are more likely to "blow" a vein, meaning you could stick the needle right through the vein which causes excessive bruising and bleeding. While the procedure itself is generally safe, there are potential complications that can arise, particularly if the blood draw site is not handled properly. Case: Two anesthesiologists in our Learn about blown veins from IV therapy and their prevention tips. 2,198 likes, 9 comments - registerednursern_com on February 18, 2025: "Vein valves help prevent the backflow of blood. Jan 12, 2023 · Blown Vein A blown vein is a vein that’s mildly injured during a blood draw or IV placement. Draw from an artery Not only is arterial blood and venous blood different in terms of the concentration of some analytes, but drawing from an artery is riskier to the patient. If you want to have a successful draw anchor that vein. Symptoms include bruising, swelling and discomfort around your vein. Although this may seem a serious condition, it’s unusual and very rarely occurs. Benefits of Using Butterfly Challenges in blood draw: Valves may obstruct the catheter and increase the risk of vein rupture if punctured. Read on to learn some useful techniques that can make the process easier. Jun 17, 2025 · Rolling veins can be a pain—literally—for the patient and the phlebotomist or the registered nurse trying to get a blood sample or start an IV. Until it has time to heal, that vein can’t be used to for blood draws, intravenous (IV) line insertion, or injection of medication. You must not use this arm to donate blood in the future. In this 6. In veins blood pressure is low so if you puncture a vein the blood will flow out smoothly. What do you do if you hit an artery during venipuncture? Mar 31, 2020 · Beside above, what Background: Venipuncture is one of the one of the most commonly performed, minimal-ly-invasive procedures; however, it may lead to peripheral nerve injury. But since each patient's medical condition varies, so does their veins. (And no, I haven't taken any Aspirin or medications that would prevent clotting. In veins, there are small valves that prevent the backflow of blood. In most situations, swelling in the vein is when a healthier inserting a needle into the vein. How can you tell if you’re about to hit a vein valve? By examining your patient’s veins, you may feel a small, knobby region along the vein that could indicate a valve. Honestly if I hit someone’s valve, I’d either advance the needle through the valve or pull it back a bit. As a result, it causes the vein to be useless to draw blood, inject medication, or use an IV. Sometimes when people tense up blood doesn't flow either, or if they've kinked the vein somehow - for example, if you're drawing from the antecubital, make sure your patient keeps their arm relaxed and straight, with no bend at the elbow. A) Start Over B) Push Through the Resistance C) Intraosseous (IO) Access D) Cry This video unveils a helpful trick to assist in flushing a cannula through what may be a vein valve if you are Aug 31, 2010 · Or do they say it to reassure the patient "my technique is beyond question, you just had a pesky valve in the way". Her arm was down and the tube was facing right where (Gravity was working with blood draw). This was a good ac vein. Bruises will disappear with time, but this may take several weeks. Best practices for avoiding venous valves Palpation Use your fingers to gently palpate the vein. What happens when you hit a During medical procedures such as drawing blood or inserting an IV, healthcare providers typically recognize a blown vein immediately. Whether it's for routine testing, donating blood, or during a hospital stay, blood draws are a necessary part of healthcare. While some minor bruising or discomfort may be normal after a blood draw, persistent or worsening symptoms could indicate a more serious complication that requires intervention. DO NOT insert the needle where veins are diverting, because this increases the chance of a haematoma. Injection particles get stuck in blood capillaries and cut off circulation. Hitting an artery can be painful and dangerous. Here, we’ll look into the causes and symptoms of a blown vein, as well as how it can be prevented. Apr 25, 2023 · Being near a valve/“leaflet”. Am i more likely to see bruising? Dec 11, 2024 · Anchoring the vein is critical to being successful when drawing blood, even for the experienced phlebotomist, so much more for the beginner. Legal Consultations. The rupture/puncture causes blood to leak outside the vein, and the blood may spill out into the surrounding area. I was just wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience, or can say if the valve thing is anything to worry about. Dec 4, 2008 · So I was drawing labs today, had a pt, couldnt get antecubital to pop out so I went for the hand. Want to go deeper into the different venipuncture techniques and their best use cases? This breakdown explores needle types, methods, and when to use each. If you hit one, you might cause the patient discomfort or risk blowing the vein. When a blood vessel breaks, scar tissue or blood clots can form and if a blood clot starts to wander and reaches the heart or lungs, the consequences can be life-threatening. If you hit a valve while performing venipuncture (whether starting an IV or drawing blood), you can try to sl Apr 4, 2017 · Typically the draw site stops bleeding after only a few minutes with the tape and gauze, but two hours later, it was still very slowly oozing blood. This is termed blown, ruptured or collapsed vein. When I was a new nurse I had difficulty finding a vein to draw blood from and to start an IV in… What is the risk of drawing blood from the basilic vein? Under the basilic vein runs an artery and a nerve, so puncturing here runs the risk of damaging the nerve or artery and is usually more painful. After I got the needle in and good return the needle started t Aug 23, 2023 · When to Seek Medical Help If you experience any of the symptoms mentioned above after a blood draw, it is important to seek medical help promptly. I have had to hold needles through donations before but only Because that was the only way to maintain adequate flow. Blown veins are usually called ruptured veins by Despite best efforts, some veins get damaged while drawing blood if they are fragile, deep-lying or valve-rich. Tourniquets are also important because they will make the blood drawing process faster. This happens because valves are stronger than vein walls, so when you advance your catheter, hit a valve, then keep advancing, it will often push out the side of the vein or cause so much damage to the wall that the vein blows. Nerve injury is more likely to occur in patients with small or fragile veins, as well as in inexperienced Healthcare Providers Love this thread!! My tip: If you’re having trouble advancing and can’t flush your catheter in but the vein isn’t blown, you might be hitting a valve. They observe the telltale signs and take corrective measures to manage the situation. Once that happens, the needle must be removed. Venipunctures, performed correctly, carry a low risk of any type of injury. Arterial injection occurs when the individual hits an artery, not a vein. When the vein starts to leak, you’ll notice your skin darkening around the insertion site. Jan 15, 2024 · How To Treat Nerve Damage From Blood Draw? Learn about symptoms, treatment options, and recovery process for nerve damage after blood draws. The next issue is hitting vein valves. I haven’t seen much advice on this sub regarding plasma donations especially of this length and with this many incidents of the vibration occurring. But if you puncture an artery the blood will squirt out with a lot of pressure and there will be a jet of blood coming from puncture site. Click now for detailed information and tips. Most phlebotomists and other healthcare professionals with blood collection responsibilities know the do's and don't's of drawing blood, but not everyone knows why the procedure must be followed exactly as they were taught. Oct 27, 2022 · Drawing blood can be tough for medical professionals for a variety of reasons. Needle in vein but no blood? Discover common reasons for failed blood draws and practical tips to ensure a successful procedure every time. This can cause discomfort and pain and can complicate further collections from that site. Venipuncture includes phlebotomy but also covers IV starts, blood donation, and therapeutic draws. when you hit a valve. Dec 23, 2020 · Blown veins occur when a needle damages a vein, causing pain and bruising. Medical professi Aug 20, 2025 · If shanking somebody in the yard is more effective when the target is working out or right after, maybe get a little pump going before a blood draw could help the red water flow? Avoiding nerve damage when performing a venipuncture requires using correct procedure during the blood draw. You’re in but then you pull back (to draw blood) and you’ve sucked the valve leaflet within the vein and your catheter is blocked. When (and Why) Venipuncture Is Performed Blood draw injuries in laboratories include nerve damage, bruising, bleeding and infection. If you feel it try to move your hand up just slightly to bring the bevel down in their vein or slightly pull back just a little. Was it while she was drawing blood? Sometimes you can hear and feel a buzzing vibration as blood is drawn, caused by the valves in your vein fluttering against the backpressure. I have started enough IV's, I know how it feels, the catheter advances, the fluid runs then stops, etc. While pulling back, try advancing the catheter. Can't find veins on your patient? Follow these simple tips for dealing with hard-to-find veins on patients when starting IVs, drawing blood, and other venipuncture procedures. If a health care expert misses a little bit of the mark, the vein can burst. What happens if blood comes out of a vein during venipuncture? Mar 04, 2020 · What happens if you hit an artery during venipuncture? Hematoma: Blood can leak out of a vein and under the skin during venipuncture . To me it an IV acts and feels different with you hit a valve versus you just blew it. I believe they're more common where two veins meet. Symptoms of a hematoma include swelling, bruising, and pain at the site of the blood draw. What happens when you hit an artery with a needle? Jun 24, 2021 · A discussion on how to reduce the risk of nerve injury when drawing blood specimens for laboratory testing. Arterial blood travels away from the heart so whatever is injected goes straight to body limbs and extremities. You'll not be able to stop bleeding just by applying pressure. As a result, there's a disconnect between cause and effect that leads healthcare professionals to underestimate the importance of every standardized detail when drawing . The vein should be visible without applying the tourniquet. This can result in a lack of blood flow, eventually causing the Aug 30, 2024 · The needle is in the vein, but there is no blood flow? Find out why and how to solve this issue. In most cases, blown veins do not cause long-term damage. If it works, it works! Reply reply Michren1298 • Jun 24, 2025 · Phlebotomy refers to drawing blood. Here, we describe the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of two self-reported cases of nerve injury during venipuncture with the aim of drawing attention to possible needle-related nerve injuries. Since the tourniquets are restricting blood flow, less is able to get out; it's easier to sop the blood flow. Too large a needle can cause significant trauma to the vein, while too small a needle might not be effective in drawing blood efficiently. While phlebotomy is generally considered safe, there are potential Failure to take blood is very commonly because of failure to appreciate the direction of flow of venous blood up the arm, and the ubiquitous presence of valves in the veins, both aspects of the circulation clearly described by William Harvey nearly 4 centuries ago. The bruise may look dramatic and some people can find this worrying, especially if it appears away from the donation area. She thinks a valve was likely hit which caused the vibration in my arm, correlating with the low flow rate and encouragement to squeeze. Besides the risk of nerve injury, arterial punctures are slower to seal and much more likely to lead to massive hematoma formation if adequate pressure is not applied. If you hit a valve while performing venipuncture (whether starting an IV or drawing blood), you can try to slightly pull back and reposition the needle. In most cases, a blown vein is not dangerous and is usually harmless. 99% of the time if you hit a valve you can pull the catheter back a little and or "thread" the IV through the valve. I am Aug 1, 2021 · This will make it easier for you to hit a vein. Here, we describe the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of two self-reported cases of nerve injury during veni-puncture with the aim of drawing attention to possible needle-related nerve injuries. Excess pressure applied by vacuum tubes along with tugging can cause the vein wall to tear, allowing blood to leak into surrounding soft tissues. Though this can be a simple procedure, it calls for accuracy and attention to detail to prevent complications like “blowing” a vein. The term “blowing” a vein means the vein has been damaged, usually resulting in bruising and swelling, which may be an uncomfortable experience on the part Mar 20, 2024 · Having blood drawn is a common medical procedure that many people experience at some point in their lives. The rest of the time was miserable, and I came out with a massive headache. Our attorneys represent blood draw victims. We call it a “positional stick Could also mean you hit a valve too. What is Vein Blown? The blown vein is the one that has bursts and is now shedding blood. Nov 19, 2019 · Hitting a valve is such a common way of blowing veins. Many issues can arise during venipuncture from unable to palpate veins, shrunken and flat veins due to dehydration, patient reacting and also mishaps from the phlebotomist’s part. ) So, I put a band-aid on it and then put an ice pack over it and applied pressure, and it eventually stopped bleeding, but it has left a tiny little scab, which has Feb 24, 2025 · Drawing blood for laboratory analysis is most often a routine and uneventful procedure. Most new nurses find that starting IVs and drawing blood can be a difficult task to perform at first. An understanding of human anatomy (the location of nerves adjacent to veins) and the ability to successfully enter a vein using the fewest number of attempts will minimize this risk even further. Jun 17, 2025 · I have hit valves and a nurse can tell the difference between blowing it and hitting a valve. Phlebotomists should always be ready to handle these situations every time they come on hand with utmost calm and confidence. Vein valves help prevent the backflow of blood. Apparently when the IV went in they hit a valve, so initial administration was wonky. Jul 19, 2023 · Summary Improper technique can lead to vein damage Poor blood flow can be caused by incorrect needle size Troubleshooting tips can help resolve common butterfly needle problems Introduction Butterfly needles, also known as winged infusion sets, are commonly used in healthcare settings What happens if you hit a blood vessel during an intramuscular injection? You may feel pain and stiffness in the muscle. Bruising It is likely that a bruise will appear after an arterial puncture. Finally, tourniquets also help prevent blood from squirting out when you remove the needle. If you think you might have hit a valve, I would pull back on syringe slowly (assuming you're using a syringe in this situation), and be sure to apply a lot of pressure after you Jul 1, 2024 · Top 5 Tips to Avoid Blown Veins During Blood Draws Tip 1: Proper Needle Selection Choosing the Right Needle Size Selecting the appropriate needle size is crucial. Today, when I tried to draw a very sick ladies blood it flowed verrrrry slow into vacutainer (and then eventually stopped). Nov 13, 2015 · Question! I have been doing community blood draws for a while. This is a general guide for troubleshooting a venipuncture scenario in which Hitting a valve is such a common way of blowing veins. Injections that hit an artery can be particularly dangerous. A blown vein is a term used to describe what happens to a vein when it ruptures or gets punctured. Case Two anesthesiologists in our Jun 25, 2024 · Nerve injury is a potential complication of Venipuncture that can occur when the needle used to draw blood damages a nerve near the vein. Typically, a 21 or 22-gauge needle is used for most adults. Valves often feel like small “bumps” or “knots” along the vein. This method can help avoid a blown vein and failed IV attempt. Veins have a series of one way valves to prevent back flow of blood. This has made me really nervous for my next treatment. In this video, we will go over how to valve test a vein when planning to start an IV or draw blood with venipuncture. The common issues are presented in a table together with the solutions. Learn more here. Jun 26, 2024 · Summary Potential complications during a phlebotomy procedure Risks associated with phlebotomy in clinical labs Preventive measures for minimizing complications Potential Complications During a Phlebotomy Procedure Phlebotomy is a common medical procedure that involves drawing blood from a patient for various Diagnostic Tests. When I tried to move it slightly, the blood back flowed into her arm from the tube. Hold the patient arm below and use your thumb to pull back on the skin. Vein valves help prevent the backflow of blood. Understand how to identify a blown vein and what steps to take for recovery. This can lead to pain, numbness, tingling, or weakness in the affected area. Valves are closures in veins that are suppose to stop blood from flowing backwards.