A butterfly needle, a popular type of blood collection needle, is used to access a patient's vein while giving fluids or medications or for drawing blood. Healthcare professionals often call butterfly needles “scalp vein set” or “winged infusion set.”

The elements of these needles can differ, but most of them feature a needle in the plastic covering or winged sheath that's drawn back to reveal the needle. The butterfly needle connects tubing that might feature a luer lock.

Now that you know butterfly needles briefly, let us proceed with understanding their usage and use cases.

How is the Butterfly Needle Used?

Healthcare experts will use butterfly needles to access your veins, draw blood, or give medications through the IV. Alternatively, they might use an intravenous catheter featuring a retractable needle resting in the protective sheath. In this case, professionals will insert a needle in the vein, then push a button to withdraw the needle and leave the catheter or sheath.

The butterfly needle is generally smaller than the intravenous catheter and remains in the veins rather than the plastic sheath. Medical professionals should carefully choose one of these based on the situation and requirements. 

Medical professionals will use a butterfly needle for the following purposes.

Venipuncture

A phlebotomist (expert in drawing blood) performs venipuncture, which refers to drawing blood. Medical professionals use butterfly needles to draw blood from patients whose veins are difficult to locate. In addition, it is commonly used for venipuncture of infants, children, and older adults. 

In comparison to IV catheters, these needles need a shallower angle. The small length of butterfly needles makes it easy to place in veins that roll, are delicate, and small in size. It is often used when a person donates blood in the blood bank. Please note that these needles feature flexible tubing at the end to ensure easy connectivity with other tubings while drawing blood.

Medications

Doctors use butterfly needles to give IV medications that are pushed in with the help of a syringe. It is often the case when patients are unable to take medications orally or the doctors want them to work quickly.

Butterfly needles are not the long-term or permanent solution to IV therapy, like giving fluids or medications. It is because these needles can easily dislocate from the veins. As a result, the doctors might suggest accessing veins through the PICC (Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter) line or central line.

IV Hydration

Doctors might use butterfly needles to access veins when patients need IV medications or fluids. IV hydration is usually used when a person is unable to drink or eat because of a pending surgery or illness. Additionally, it is also used to treat dehydration. IV fluids or medications are infused through the hollow butterfly needle to help restore the fluid levels or rehydrate.

Wrapping Up

Butterfly needles ease the process of collecting blood, especially for people with veins that are difficult to locate or for the ones with medical conditions, causing them to bleed more than general. By using appropriate needles, practitioners can easily draw blood. However, make sure to source quality butterfly needles from a prominent blood collection needle supplier.