Does IV always have to be on opposite side of breast surgery?

Lisbeth

Hi all - more questions. So I had mastectomy and many lymph nodes removed many years ago on my right side. Now I have DCIS on the left side and I'm having a lumpectomy soon. Does that mean the anesthesia IV and blood pressure cuff cannot go into my left arm during surgery? Does it mean that they will try to use these on my compromised right arm?

Thanks!

Hildy910

I have the same question--going in for a prophy MX on the right side, and they can't do blood pressure on my left side b/c of the LE.  I'm planning on making a point of this at my pre-op visits. What do you guys recommend I do as far as minimizing impact to the already affected arm?

Kicks

Leg can be used for BP and veins in leg/foot for IV.

kareenie

I actually had BP/IV in right (Non LE risk) arm when I had Right Prophy MX. No problem....

(Now that I think of it I had not yet manifested LE but I knew left was at-risk)

I guess right is now minimally at-risk but so far I am allowing BP & IV in right.....

Binney4

Lisbeth, neck can be used for IV and is not as bad as it sounds.
Keep us posted,
Binney

purple32

Binney

That is such useful info to have ( altho' I am not certain  who I might trust with that !)
Thank you.

Lisbeth

Thank you all - appreciate it. I have heard that it's not the jugular in the neck, but a smaller vein although I admit it did sound like a horror show at first. My surgeon has since told me they would IV the arm on the side where they will perform lumpectomy. This seems okay to me.