Question

Week 6: Case Study: Brachial Artery Puncture Issue (graded) A phlebotomist is sent to collect and ABG from a patient in the cardiac care unit. The patient has an IV in the right near the wrist and the left wrist has a rash. The phlebotomist h do brachial artery punctures, so he decides to use the brachial artery of the left arm. The physician has specifically requested that the specimen be drawn without the use of lidocaine. He notes that the patient seems to have labored breathing The phlebotomist verifies that all other patient conditions have been met and proceeds with specimen collection. As he inserts the needle, the patient winces in apparent great pain and moves his arm. No blood flows so the phlebotomist cautions the patient to keep still and redirects the needle. The syringe then rapidly fills with bluish red blood. The phlebotomist hold s pressure and then applies a pressure bandage finishes the paperwork and returns to the laboratory with the specimen. • Why do you think the physician requested that the specimen be drawn without lidocaine? • Do you think the phlebotomist did the appropriate thing when the patient felt great pain? Explain your answer? Would you have responded differently? • Why do you think the arterial sample appeared blue red instealbright red? Explain.

Answer 1

●There could be the following reasons for the physician request for not using lidocaine are

• It can beca double puncture to the patient and increasing discomfort
• To prevent the prolongation of sample collection

●No ,the response given by the phlebotomist is not right .Cautioning the patient to be still can create a sense of fear and anxiety and increase the discomfort rate.The phlebotomist should have explained the procedure thoroughly and should have informed the patient that little pain will be felt during procedure.So please keep the arms straight or still for some time

●Arteries usually carries pure blood which are bright red in color dark red or bluish red can happen when the puncture is in the vein.