Pin Question

Mister B

New member
OK, I switched over to PVLabs enth (three shots ago)... It's pretty thick stuff.

I'm drawing through a 23 g (easier to buy one box) but I'm having a bit of trouble. I'm patient and all that, but I've noticed it contains so many air bubbles... I couldn't figure it out as Mrs. B's eq never has a single bubble...

Anyway, to the point, I was watching it real close this morning and it appears that it's drawing air (BD set) through where the pin attaches to the syringe. Tiny, tiny bubbles. I tightened it on pretty good, but I always switch pins to shoot so I didn't really torque it on there. Definitely gave it a good twist though, enough that I had to apply some good pressure to remove it.

I know some obvious suggestions are:
- warm it with hot water (I'll try this next time).
- bigger g pin for drawing (tried an 18 g once but it left such a gaping hole in the rubber stopper that I decided to preload everything from that vial -- would a 21 g make enough difference maybe?)

I run the syringe under warm water and it helps get the bubbles out quickly, but I was thinking today that drawing air CAN'T be a good thing... almost even worried now (although I'd know by now if something was wrong). It's increasing my risk of infection I would think.

Anyone else have this problem?

B
 
I use 20 gauge pins for drawing. They move fluid reasonably fast and don't cause too much trauma to the rubber stopper. I've never had any bubble issues.
 
the amount of air to cause an air embolism could not fit in a rig... this is quoted from wikipedia.. ya i know not a source but there is a huge margin of error them stating what they state and how big our pins are

For venous air embolisms, death may occur if a large bubble of gas becomes lodged in the heart, stopping blood from flowing from the right ventricle to the lungs (this is similar to vapor lock in engine fuel systems).[2][3] However, experiments in animals [4] show that the amount of gas necessary for this to happen is quite variable. Human case reports suggest that injecting more than 100 mL of air into the venous system at rates greater than 100 mL/s can be fatal.[5] Very large and symptomatic amounts of venous air emboli may also occur in rapid decompression in severe diving or decompression accidents, where they may interfere with circulation in the lungs and result in respiratory distress and hypoxia.[6][\quote]

^ Jump up to: a b c d Emergency Medical Responder 3rd Can Ed. Pearson, 2010 pp.474
 
with IM injections i find the air helps. usually draw a little air to help "pack in" the oil into the muscle. have done multiple cycles and never a problem.
 
I usually inject 1/4 of a CC of air to make sure that I don't leave any gear in needle and it also has a feel to it when done. That way I don't have to look at whede I'm pinning. Hasn't killed me yet.
 
Besides it is air IV that is potentially deadly. Even then the amount is somewhere along the lines of 10Cc
 
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