John
Unfortunately, I have had experience of being both !! We regularly take
blood from each other for control studies in our unit, and the alcohol thing
is true, even for straight venepuncture. It's like a wasp sting, quite
unlike the dull sensation of a big needle puncture (I know describing sharp
needles as dull is odd, but that's how it seems !). It must be a direct
irritation of exposed nurve organs !
You can reproduce a similar stinging sensation by pressing the alcohol swab
onto the puncture hole after a venepuncture - something I did a long time
ago until I found out how mean it is !
If we're talking about a trial, what's the evidence that cleaning skin with
alcohol (as opposed to soap/tap water/nothing) is necessary or even
effective? Perhaps there are different answers for each procedure
(venepuncture, peripheral cannulation and central lining). In true adult
learning style, I won't say but let everyone find out !
All the best Rob
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From: acad-ae-med-request
To: acad-ae-med
Subject: canulation
Date: Wednesday, April 28, 1999 8:44PM
Interesting comment from a patient today, a ketoacidotic diabetic. I
cleansed the skin with an alcohol swab bit she then asked me to wipe the
skin dry as she said that cannulation after cleansing the skin with an
alcohol swab is more painful than cannulation of dry skin. I had never
heard this before and wondered if this was the voice of experience from a
frequently canulated person (20th admission in 18 months with ketoacidosis
but thats another story) or was it her imagination ? Has anyone else had
this experience (either as canulator or canulatee !)
A controlled blinded trial beckons. Any volunteers for cannulation ?
Dr John Ryan
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