G-Sleeves are placed on the affected patient’s arm to alert medical staff that there is to be no blood pressure tests, no IVs and no blood drawn from this arm. The danger of having these processes on an “at-risk arm” or an arm affected by lymphedema, according to the makers of the G-Sleeve, is that the squeezing involved in these processes can cause further damage to already fragile lymphatics and blood vessels, possibly leading to lymphedema or worsening the condition.
“This sleeve is a visual reminder for everyone not to use this arm for intravenous access or blood pressures,” says Suzette Rieger, RN, clinical coordinator of the ASC. “What may seem like a small gesture goes a long way to protect our patients.”
And patients have expressed their appreciation for the gesture.
“Although we began using these several years ago, this ‘small’ piece of safety equipment has become very near and dear to the team with people’s personal breast cancer stories,” says James McGehee, RN, administrator for the ASC. “The patients take these home and wash them and take them to other doctor’s appointments as well. We get raves about this by patients.”
Here is an image of the G-Sleeve worn by a member of the Cleburne Surgical Center staff:
Learn more about the G-Sleeve.
Cleburne Surgical Center is partnered with Meridian Surgical Partners, who helped arrange this article. Learn more about Meridian Surgical Partners.
