Epipen adrenaline

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Just wondered if anyone routinely kept these on hand for anaphylatic events eg post local anaesthesia

or if podiatrists are actually entitled to use them?

Thanks in advance

Greg

 

Hi,

We keep the epipen for use in any cases of anaphylaxis when using LA.(thankfully we've never had to use it)

Our NHS podiatry dept was trained to use it under locally agreed patient group directive.

Cheers,

Neil.

 

In Queensland, we were recently granted access to EpiPen provided you had completed a formal CE activity in its use.

However, the incidence of true amide local anaesthetic allergy is thought to be almost non-exisitent.

The concern would be that a practitioner would confuse the symptoms of anaphylaxis with those of cardiotoxicity or vaso vagal, or a co-incidental myocardial infaction (all much more likely than an anaphylaxis) - and inadvertently administer the EpiPen without need.

Fortunately the dose is small enough not to cause any great distress, and is used by all types of non-medically trained people as first aid, with this in mind.

LL

 

Hi Greg,

I'm a Kiwi working in the UK. I work for one of the primary care trusts.
We do nail surgery and soft tissue electrosurgery every week.
We are required to have epipens if we are injecting LA and must have epipens for adults and children. (epipen - 0.3mg - 1:1000 and epipen Jr 0.15mg - 1:2000)

Not sure this equates to back home?

AD

 

Epipens as far as I thought should be basic legal requirement for all health professional clinics and expiry date to be checked annually.
Basic life support is a regular demonstration of competency CCME and not difficult to obtain

Cheers Carleen

 

:santa I routinely have an Epipen on a nearby desk and a Minijet syringe- this contin 1mg of adrenalin-in case of patient anaphylaxis which seems to be more common now.The Minijet syringe requires half its contents to be injected and the other half five minutes later if there is an inadequate respose to the first injection.Jeffrey Jones,UK

 

we have them in the NHS for nail surgery etc however does anyone know if people use them for private practice (which you would hope so) and if so where do you get them from?

Thanks

Sam

 

Hello Sam,I finished with Epipens some while ago and have a Minijet syringe on hand when using LA.These cost£11.09 and you only need one as this contains 1mg of adrenaline which is equivalent to three and a bit Epipens(0.3mg per pen).

 

thanks. sorry if this is a silly question but where do you get them from? im new to private practice so unsure where to get these things from.

any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Sam

 

C & P medical http://www.myfootcaresupplies.com/ stock the adult and junior epipens.

Regards
Ian

 

I have ampules of adrenaline and syringes ready when i perform nail or skin surgery under LA in private practice. It works out much cheaper, not that I would ever want to need to use it, touch wood !

 

Cheers Ian

Sam

 

Re:Minijet adrenaline syringes.You can buy these from P and G Pharmaceuticals,tel 01420 487501.Each delivers 1mg of adrenaline and half the contents would be injected on initial presentation of anaphylaxis,the other half to be injected five minutes later if the condition remains uncontrolled;these are adult doses.Minijet syringes cost £13 each,about one-tenth the price of three Epipens.

 

Excellent thanks. ill defo look into that option

Sam

 

In the UK we are expected to have adrenaline to hand when using LA should anything go wrong.

In the NHS our CPR training covers our update for its usage and application. HOWEVER the adrenaline has to be pre-measured/drawn up in a device such as miniject or the like. We are not covered (by work) to use ampules because they believe that as we do not use it regularly we would not be competent to accurately assess concentration and dosage in the stress of the moment.

Hope that helps someone.

Duncan