Flutter Valves

n7lxi said:
It's long... 3.5", I believe. It worked like a champ in the last guy I popped. :)
Click to expand...
That's what we use as well...I can't remember the exact length, but I believe our 10 ga angiocaths in the decompression kit are 3.5". I checked last week after I read a study on needle decompression on RESUSME, but I've already forgotten. :P

That being said, my friend did bring up the flutter valve issue to our MD the other day, and he still wants us to use them. I can't really speak to the efficacy of them, since I've only decompressed one chest, and it was on an intubated patient where I used a 3 way stopcock.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Sorry I don't know the exact size off hand, but I'll pull the chest decompression kit tonight and take a look. :). I know it's a 14 and at least a 3.25, and we're only allowed to use the midaxillary line.
 
n7lxi said:
Sorry I don't know the exact size off hand, but I'll pull the chest decompression kit tonight and take a look. :). I know it's a 14 and at least a 3.25, and we're only allowed to use the midaxillary line.
Click to expand...

I just checked our kit, and the 10ga angiocath is 3" long.
 
fast65 said:
I just checked our kit, and the 10ga angiocath is 3" long.
Click to expand...

Ouch that's a big boy needle.


We use 14g for adults here. No fancy premade kit either. We just take out a 14g angiocath and remove the flash cap. (We don't carry the auto retracting IV needles)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
NYMedic828 said:
Ouch that's a big boy needle.


We use 14g for adults here. No fancy premade kit either. We just take out a 14g angiocath and remove the flash cap. (We don't carry the auto retracting IV needles)
Click to expand...

Still infinitely smaller than a 36fr chest tube.
 
usalsfyre said:
That's pretty disappointing if I can learn something new while instructing I welcome it. An attitude like that stifles good medicine.
Click to expand...

Since when is the status-quo EMS about medicine?

And I haven't made a flutter valve w/ the two I've done in the field. We don't carry extension tubing(ugh!) or stopcocks either.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Per our OMD Education /Tac-Med guy, "we haven't used those in ten years because they're worthless."

Nothing like multiple standards to make life confusing.
 
fast65 said:
I just checked our kit, and the 10ga angiocath is 3" long.
Click to expand...

3.25" 14g here. All packaged up with a commercial valve and betadine swabs.
 
NVRob said:
3.25" 14g here. All packaged up with a commercial valve and betadine swabs.
Click to expand...

You always have to one up me Rob!
 
Way back when, Sac City FD ambulances carried 3.5 - 4.0 inch 12 ga angiocaths specifically for this purpose. I do not know if they have them any longer. Most of the private companies I have worked for used the longest 14ga angios they could find, if we didn't have them on the truck, we could simply use one of our regular 14ga angiocaths, but with the understanding that they might be a bit short on some patients... I've yet to do a needle decompression.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top