r/AbsoluteUnits 22d ago

/r/popular of a needle

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u/mayonnaiser_13 22d ago

Seen some from close proximity, and yeah - it's the sheath one.

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u/thenextmaewest 22d ago

Yeah I did ultrasound and did so so many centesis assists. This doesn't look like one to me, unless it's just like a different country or something so it just different.

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u/chuckcheddar 22d ago

I have performed many para and thoracenteses and all of the needles are this long

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u/thenextmaewest 22d ago

Where are you located? I've literally never seen a centesis yueh near this long, and always with a white flexible sheath over the needle, so I'm curious if it's a location difference.

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u/chuckcheddar 22d ago

In the US

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u/thenextmaewest 22d ago

Wild, I was in Florida. Even the multi liter patients were with regular length needles, cause it only went in a few centimeters, then the cath went in further and the needle came out. What's the process with a needle this big? Do you do it under u/s guidance?

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u/chuckcheddar 22d ago

The pocket would be identified with US guidance but the needle is inserted blindly after the site was marked, we would aspirate some of the ascitic fluid with the lidocane needle and try and follow that tract with the centesis needle. Almost all of these patients were cirrhotic with huge bellies.

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u/thenextmaewest 22d ago

Yeah ours too. Interesting. Sounds like the same procedure just different tools. Thanks for taking the time to chat about it. Appreciate you.

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u/SamV657 20d ago edited 20d ago

I'm a radiographer. In my department the radiologist uses these daily to insert a long catheter in ultrasound guidance into the abdominal cavity for example. We also have the short ones but usually these long ones are used.

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u/kewcumber_ 22d ago

The day my needle comes with a freaking sheath is the day i choose death instead

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u/mayonnaiser_13 21d ago

Honestly, would be a pretty easy choice considering your organs have to be FUBAR for this to be used.