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What is an Angiocatheter?

Many wilderness and sailing first aid kits come with an angiocatheter, but I can't find very much info on them on the net. Does anyone know what it is and what it's purpose would be in an advanced first aid kit? Is it like a regular IV catheter?

Public Comments

1. Hi,
Your angiocatheter is for Iv fluids, but you can also get blood from it as well as push meds in it. It can be capped off and flushed with a heparin solution to keep it open if you are not running fluids in it.

2. It's an IV catheter - a plastic tube over a needle. It's put in together, then the needle part is removed and the plastic tube stays inside the vein.

http://www.opitsourcebook.com/images/bdangioauto.jpg
http://www.mrprotocols.com/MRA/start_iv/Image29.jpg

It's not any good if you don't now how to use it.