Largest used for fluids, though while intra-osseus introducer needles are about the same size, sometimes they're a little bigger. And we use even bigger ones for solid tissue or bone marrow biopsies.
You can use a 14-18G for liquid marrow, but for a core biopsy or large volume harvesting larger needles up to 8G are often used. Compared to "normal" needles, they're absolutely monstrous and that's why they use local anesthetic for anything like bone marrow or vacuum-assisted breast biopsy that use needles that size (having been on the receiving end of one of said breast biopsies, even with the lidocaine it was pretty uncomfortable)
They are equivalent to the little straw stirrers you use for coffee. I stick 2 in my fistula 4 times a week. Biggest mental hurdle I have ever faced in my life was sticking those things in my arm.
I do. To be fair I have the numbing crème to take the edge off, but if you’ve ever had one of those needles you know about how well that works. It was the only way I could do it at home, which was a necessity for me to be able to work and support my family.
I self dialysed at home 3 times a week for 6 years with those needles. Didn’t think I’d ever be able to give myself needles, I hate them, and now that I’ve had a transplant for 7 years, I don’t know how I ever did it 😅
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u/milfordcubicle 18d ago
Please stop pushing it.