The winged infusion set or winged blood collection set – also known as a butterfly needle – is one of the most popular and versatile medical devices used by medical and healthcare professionals. Used for drawing blood or intravenously administering fluids or drugs, this uniquely designed medical apparatus gets its name from the plastic “wings” on either side of the hollow needle that are used to access a vein. Here’s a comprehensive overview of the butterfly needle and its many uses and advantages in the healthcare field.
Purposes of the Winged Blood Collection Set
A winged blood collection set consists of a very fine needle, two “wings,” a flexible transparent tubing, and a connector. It is used by healthcare workers for the following purposes:
Venipuncture: A butterfly needle is used by a phlebotomist to draw blood. It is especially used when an individual is giving blood, such as for a blood bank. Since the needle has flexible tubing attached at the end, it becomes easier to connect it to other tubing to collect blood.
Intravenous delivery of fluids: A doctor or nurse may use this needle to deliver intravenous fluids if a patient is dehydrated and is unable to drink fluids. The hollow butterfly needle allows intravenous fluids to be infused with ease.
Transfer Medication: A butterfly needle may be used by doctors and nurses to transfer intravenous medication such as pain medications and antibiotics. It may also be used for chemotherapy.
Despite its multiple uses, a winged blood collection set is not meant for everyone. Because of the relatively small needle size, blood takes time to collect. This can be problematic if a person is squeamish or in a situation wherein blood is needed quickly. Moreover, because the needle is left in the arm, it could potentially damage a part of the vein if the unit is accidentally yanked or removed.
Advantages of a Winged Blood Collection Set
Butterfly needles come with a number of advantages over straight needles. These are as follows:
- Recent studies suggest that using a winged infusion set to draw blood significantly reduced rates of blood breakdown as compared to IV catheters.
- It can easily access superficial veins near the surface of the skin because of the small size and shallow-angle design of the needle. It can also access veins that are small or narrow and fragile, such as those in infants, children, and the elderly. Besides, it is less painful to use.
- Many healthcare workers find it easier to use butterfly needles and feel more comfortable using them. This unique blood collection device gives a phlebotomist a clear visual indicator of whether or not the needle has been successfully inserted into the patient’s vein.
- A winged blood collection set reduces the chances of a patient experiencing profuse bleeding following a blood draw. Moreover, reports have shown that butterfly needles, again due to their relatively shorter length, are less likely to cause medical complications and nerve injury compared to other needle types.
- Newer models of butterfly needles, with added safety components, are equipped with mechanisms that have considerably reduced the possibility of needle-stick injuries for medical workers. These include the slide-and-lock shield that automatically slides over the needle after it is extracted from the vein or semi-automatic retraction of the needle from the vein.
Vaku-8+ Safety Blood Collection Set
The Vaku-8+ Winged Blood Collection Set comes with the latest safety features, making it the preferred device for drawing blood by doctors and health workers the world over. Made by Hindustan Syringes & Medical Devices (HMD) Ltd, one of the world’s top five manufacturers of medical equipment, the Vaku-8+ Safety Blood Collection Set has a non-latex rubber shield that automatically envelopes the needle after use, preventing any accidental needle-stick injuries. It also comes with other distinct features that evidence its reliability and superior quality such as textured wings for an improved grip, minimal pain due to short bevel, and female Luer lock for a better fit.