Complications of venepuncture.docVIP

Advances in Bioscience and Biotechnology, 2013, 4, 126-128 ABB /10.4236/abb.2013.41A018 Published Online January 2013 (/journal/abb/) Complications of venepuncture Omiepirisa Yvonne Buowari Medical Women Association of Nigeria, Rivers State Branch, Port Harcourt, Nigeria Email: yvonnebuowari@ Received 20 November 2012; revised 27 December 2012; accepted 15 January 2013 ABSTRACT bility [3]. Blood can be collected from a patient for laboratory investigations, blood donation or therapeutically to re- duce the amount of blood as in patients with polycy- themia Vera. Blood investigation and analysis is one of the commonest diagnostic tool used by doctors. Venepuncture is the commonest procedure performed in health care settings. A review of literature and search on complications of venepuncture and blood collection. This procedure is without complications, which sometime can be fatal. Complications that can arise from venepuncture include haematoma forma- tion, nerve damage, pain, haemaconcentration, extra- vasation, iatrogenic anaemia, arterial puncture, pete- chiae, allergies, fear and phobia, infection, syncope and fainting, excessive bleeding, edema and thrombus. A variety of adverse complications may be encoun- tered during blood collection process [4]. Laboratory investigations request by doctors is an important com- ponent in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. A superficial vein most commonly used for venepuncture. The best sites for venepuncture of superficial veins of the upper limbs are the median cubital vein. It lies over the cubital fossa and serves as an anastomosis between the cephalic and basilic veins [5]. The cephalic vein in both the forearm and arm can be followed proximally where it empties into the axillary vein, the basilic veins joins the brachial vein [5]. Inappropriate sites for venepuncture are arm on side of mastectomy, edematous areas,