Blood taken from wrist artery

[angryt]

Hi, a couple of weeks ago I went to the doctors to get my Cortisol level checked, the nurse couldn't find a vein, after stabbing me in both arms and my hands she said she needed to go into the artery in my wrist for the blood. Desperate to get out of there I agreed, she used a proper syringe to SUCK the blood out of the artery and it was agonizing. The problem is, the bruise going all the way up my arm went away but the pain every time I straighten my hand and the pins and needles I keep getting hasn't. It is really very painful, and worse I am a freelance writer, so this is becoming a serious problem for me. Could she have damaged some nerves? Should she even have taken the blood from there? She was so incompetent...I mean this affects my life and work. Can anny body help?

[caregiver222]

It was inappropriate to take the bloods from the artery. I don't buy her story. There are veins in the feet, for example, and I have never had a patient that I have been unable to take bloods from. The general drill is, if one nurse can't find a vein she needs to get someone else to try. Not to "go for an artery". Not for a cortisol test. Taking the test was not that critical and there is also a saliva cortisol test.

[angryt]

Hi, thanks for your answer, the only reason she did it from the artery was because she couldn't find a vein - useless! I know my veins are hard to find, but they aren't impossible, if she had warned me aboout the possible pain I would have refused, but she just said "it might sting a little," yeah, a little! I wont be letting them do that again in a hurry. Just thank god it was my left hand not my right eh?

[caregiver222]

To begin with cortisol levels are normally taken from a vein and not an artery. The wrist artery is used to take ABG's or arterial blood gases. There is a mis-communication or else the nurse is a space alien. I routinely refuse ABG's, because the last one I got, after the sixth try, the youngster nicked a nerve and I was in pain for six months.  This is difficult because the ER physicians invariably inform you "It's a matter of life and death!".  Sometimes it is. Sometimes it isn't. Mostly, it because of hospital protocol. If they are going to take an ABG, don't necessarily refuse, but always ask "is this procedure really necessary?" ABG's are helpful in diagnosing cardiac problems and to evaluate breathing difficulties. Years ago, when I worked in a hospital I used to perform the procedure, but it is difficult to learn, and some people never get the hang of it. The main reason for the procedure in a teaching hospital is that freshly minted nurses and chancre-mechanics have to perform a certain number of them to get certified. The good news is that invariably the nerve heals, and warm saline and iburprufin will help. The bad news is some injuries don't, and cause chronic pain, in which case you have what my favorite bottom-feeder calls an "actionable tort".  Lots of documentaion needed. What isn't documented does not exist. The bruise going up your arm isn't normal, but again, these injuries usually heal without lasting effect. I haven't the vaguest ideas about what is so hard about taking bloods, but it seems to be a skill, like making good barbecue, some people never seem to learn.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the forum!
The pricking of artery and repeated pricking of veins could have resulted in infection of the blood vessels also called thrombophlebitis. Try dipping the hand in warm saline water and take OTC anti-inflammatory drugs and see. If this does not help, consult a doctor or a vascular specialist.
Hope this helps. Do let me know if there is any thing else and keep me posted. Take care!