Hi Stuart -
Thought I would ask this question here since I imagine others may have the same issue. So Robert is doing GREAT (because of your help and expertise) with the touch cannulation on buttonholes with the JMS needles. He has been cannulating the same buttonholes for years. I have two questions.
The first question is: Lately, the last couple of months or so, de-cannulation is quite painful for him. Pulling the needles now hurts way more than putting them in. He is very sensitive and even pulling the tape off is painful no matter how careful and gentle I am. I am trying to figure out what I should/can do to make it better. Even the slightest pressure is really bad.
Second question: On the arterial, the needle slides in with literally NO resistance. Makes me worry that it’s so slack I wonder how the bleeding ever stops. The venous is more resistant and always has been. I cannulate arterial first.
So…should I create new buttonholes? Other than the above these buttonholes are working GREAT. What, if anything, can I do to ease the pain when removing the needles? I am trying to be very careful not to put pressure until the needle is out, but you know it is a timing thing…avoiding blood going everywhere without putting pressure on the needle as you are pulling it. Finesse is everything.
OK Mr. Fistula Whisperer…what is your wisdom? Y’all reading this…I am not kidding this guy (Stuart Mott) is a genius. You can’t go wrong with his advice.
- Martha