Ladies and gentlemen...desperately seeking stories about an arterial catheter!!! Found out  today at pre-op the Doc's at Franklin Regional make all GPS patients have one for surgery. I imagine this hurts like the devil based on my experience with an ABG and wonder how it makes you feel , how bad the pain really is, and how long does it stay in?

I don't know the answer to your question, sorry.  I just wanted to let you know that I am thinking about you and hoping someone else can tell you.  It does sound painful, but I also thought my surgery would be.  Keep your chin up...  this is just something else you have to deal with to get through to the other side of your journey.   Hang in there...   Connie

If you are talking about the net to catch any blood clots, I get mine out tomorrow.  It stays in for six weeks. They put it in right before surgery so I didn't know a thing but not looking forward to getting it out.  If you're talking about a central line (an IV in the neck) again they put that in right before surgery and I was doped up but I can tell you that it hurt going in and coming out.  While it was in it didn't bother me at all and the meds sure got working quicker.  I hope that helps.  I'm sending prayers for your surgery and hope you fly through recovery! When life gets you down get up on a horse.

Thank you...that gives me an idea of what to expect. I guess all in all it's a pretty minor/momentary bump in the road to a healthier me!

Ok, assuming we ARE talking about the stint, blood catching thingy that goes in the main artery in your neck, I honestly don't know what the "doctor name" was for it...  BUT, if that IS what you're asking about I had ABSOLUTLY, NO PROBLEMS with it!!  I was awake when they put it in, sedated of course, but joked the whole time with my 2 nurses.  While it was in, I had no problems with pain or even knowing that it was there!!  When they took it out, it took an hour longer than they had said it would because it had broken.  WHICH WAS NO BIG DEAL!!!  The doctor just took a little extra time to make sure he "retrieved it correctly" is what they told me lol  I was awake for this one too, and NOTHING about it hurt at all.  I was just mad cause I was there longer than they said I would have been lol   Mine was in for almost 6 weeks and the ONLY thing that "bothered" me AT ALL was the fact that the very small scar where they put it in, ITCHED like mad!!   (A little anti itch cream would fix it up for a few hours!!) Anyway, I HOPE that this is what you were talking about, if it's not, just ignore the crazy lady and I hope you find out what you were needing!! Connie  GOOD LUCK AND DON'T WORRY!!!

I think everyone is confused about what you are talking about. My husband Levi went to Franklin Regional. He had an ABG. They put it in long enough to get samples, then they take it out. It does not stay in for days or weeks. And yes it hurts!!!!

If they are putting a filter in ... it's called a Vena Cava filter. It is a device inserted into a major vein to prevent a blood clot from entering the lungs.

Here's some information about Vena Cava filters ...

I hope that this puts your mind at ease.

Barb

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Purpose

The purpose of a vena cava filter is to prevent a blood clot from potentially traveling to the lungs. A thrombus clot traveling to the lungs is called a pulmonary embolism (PE). A thrombus in the deep venous system (the part of the circulation that brings blood back to the heart) represents a disorder of normal hemostasis (the normal clotting of blood).

Insertion of a vena cava filter is indicated for patients who:

• cannot receive medications that can dissolve the clot (anticoagulation therapy)

   

   

• have a thrombus in a deeply situated vein

   

   

• experiance complication of anticoagulation therapy such as bleeding

   

   

• experiance failure of anticoagulation therapy to prevent pulmonary embolism

   

   

• have an embolus in the lungs (pulmonary embolectomy) removed

   

   

• have a recurrent embolism while receiving adequate medications

   

   

• have significant bleeding complications during anticoagulation

 

Precautions

There are no significant precautions concerning insertion of a vena cava filter. The devices are usually effective and short-term complications are unusual

Description

Vena cava filters are usually inserted in to prevent PE caused by a thrombosis in a deep vein (DVT). Approximately 60% of patients who die in a hospital have evidence of PE during autopsy. The incidence (number of new cases) of DVT is highest for patients undergoing surgical repair of a fractured hip. However, DVT is common in both surgical and medical patients. DVT is found in 29-33% of patients in medical intensive care units (MICU) and in 27-40% of patients with a heart attack (myocardial infarction). Vena cava filters are placed to prevent thrombi from entering the lungs. There is currently a new type of filter called the Kim-Ray-Greenfield filter.

Preparation

Insertion of a vena cava filter is an invasive procedure. The patient is prepared for this procedure using standard surgical protocols. The VCF is commonly implanted in the jugular vein in the neck or the femoral vein in the groin. The procedure is generally well tolerated.

Aftercare

This depends on the patient's health status and recommendation's for continued care.

Risks

Many patients have died from PE even with a vena cava implantation. Use of a VCF is primarily indicated if there are contraindications for anticoagulation therapy. VCF can increase a patient's susceptibility for developing recurrent DVT.

Thanks everybody.  The cath I will be getting is similar to the one they use for the AGB except it stays in for surgery and comes out when you are stable...sometime before discharge. I was not told anything about the vena cava filter, but I did have to sign a consent form for the catheter. I was told it goes into the artery of the wrist, not the neck.

While I know that some programs, like UNC do use Vena Cava filters routinely, honestly most do not. I had my surgery at Duke and they said that they only use a Vena Cava filter when they feel it's medically warranted; in my case it wasn't. That said, AnnieP had one and it caught a huge embolism and in doing so, probably saved her life.

If you are having an Arterial or A-Line Catheter, it's probably this ...

An intra-arterial catheter (A-line) is a very small plastic tube (called catheter) placed in one of your blood vessels (an artery) by highly trained personnel. This is usually done during or before certain types of surgery or in the Intensive Care Unit.

Reasons for Placing A-Line

• To watch your blood pressure very closely
• To draw frequent blood samples for lab tests
• To test for the oxygen saturation in the blood (check how much oxygen is in your blood)

Method of Placement of A-Line

This is usually placed on the inner side of the wrist. It could also be placed in the artery on the inner side of the elbow, the groin or the foot.

The area is decided mainly upon how well your pulse is felt. That area of the skin cleaned well with a disinfecting solution and alcohol.

Then, the pulse is felt. With a small needle the skin is numbed with local anesthesia. Then, using a needle with a plastic catheter the skin is entered

Once inside the artery, the plastic catheter is advanced further in and the needle is removed.

 

The catheter is then connected to some tubing.

 

Possible Complication Of The Procedure

This is a very safe procedure, performed by highly trained professionals. The rare complications of this procedure are local infection, bleeding damage to surrounding tissues and blockage of the artery in which the catheter was placed.

Things To Watch For While You Have This Line

Let your physician know when any of the following occurs:

• Redness around the catheter insertion site.
• Disconnection of the catheter from the tubing which may result in bleeding.
• In the extremity in which the catheter is placed watch for numbness or pain in the fingers.

Thank you so much Barbara. At least I know what to expect now, althought I still don't like the sound of it!!!! Maybe I can ask to have it placed once I'm asleep!