Pikeville Medical Center (PMC) has introduced a new device that helps health care professionals locate veins for IV sticks and blood draws. The AccuVein AV400 projects a pattern of infrared light onto the patient’s skin that reveals the position of underlying veins.

The process is simple, just point the lightweight, portable device at the skin and click to display the peripheral veins beneath.

The system is designed to help healthcare professionals locate the best vein for venipuncture. Venipuncture is the most common invasive medical procedure worldwide with an estimated 2.7 million procedures conducted every day in the United States alone. Studies reveal that up to one third of attempts to access a vein fail the first time. Improving first-stick attempts is a major goal for health care providers around the world.

PMC Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Office, Michelle Rainey said, “We are committed to providing quality care at PMC. I can see that many patients will benefit from this new technology. We are excited about using the AccuVein to minimize pain for those patients with the greatest risk for multiple sticks.”

Even the most experienced healthcare professionals can have difficulty accessing veins quickly the first time.

Everyone is potentially a difficult stick. Young children and the elderly often have small or damaged veins that are difficult to “hit” even by experienced practitioners using only their naked eye.

Dark-skinned individuals also are difficult to stick the first time, as are patients with a history of extensive past IV drug applications or drug abuse. Obese patients also have proven difficult to stick successfully.

In addition to the range of patient types, factors such as dehydration and medications can often play a role in the ability to access veins as well as low body temperature and lack of muscle.

Vein visualization has been introduced throughout the world in over 130 countries. It is being used in over 5,000 hospitals and is now available at PMC.

For additional information about services at Pikeville Medical Center, call 606-430-3500 or visit pikevillehospital.org.