Project Overview

Each year many patients undergo femoral vein catheterization. Insertion of a femoral vein catheter is common in procedures where access to a large blood flow or a clear pathway to the heart is desired. Hemodialysis, angioplasty, invasive blood pressure monitoring and drug infusion are examples of such procedures. Insertion of the catheter can be difficult, as the femoral vein makes several turns before it meets the inferior vena cava. Often the patient’s leg must be put into a position that is optimal for placement of the catheter. This position may be difficult to maintain during the procedure and often assistance is required to hold the patient’s leg. Another complication during femoral vein catheterization is obstruction of the operating area due to the patient’s pannus. Currently, a resident physician or nurse must hold both the leg and the pannus, if necessary. This can be both hard work and can crowd the operating room. Development of a leg positioning device that both secures the patient’s leg at the optimal angles and provides a method for retracting the pannus away from the operating field will provide tremendous assistance in the operating room.

Files

• Mid-semester report and PDS (March 12, 2008)
• Final Poster (May 12, 2008)
• Final Paper (May 12, 2008)
• Mid-semester presentation (March 7, 2008)

Contact Information

Team Members

• Matt Kudek - Team Leader
• Jenna Spaeth - Communicator
• Aaron Freis - BSAC
• Tim Balgemann - BWIG

Advisor and Client

• Prof. Brenda Ogle - Advisor
• Jonathan Jaffery - Client