Intravenous Fluid Therapy

Question 1

What are the main objectives of IV THERAPY?

Answer 1

1. Maintenance and restoration of fluid and electrolyte balance
2. Delivery of Parenteral nutrition
3. Transfusion of blood products
4. Provision of medication and chemotherapy

Question 2

What are the three main methods used?

Answer 2

1. Large volume infusions for hydration: continue for 12-24 hours, isotonic, hypotonic, hypertonic
2. Rapid injection: short period, 2-3 minutes I.e antibiotics
3. Intermittent infusions
   - period of 30-60 minutes, every four hours I.e. Antibiotics

Question 3

What is the peripheral cannula?

Answer 3

A route of administration

1. Short catheter is inserted through the skin into the peripheral vein
2. Arms or hand
3. Foot may be used
4. Scalp for children sometimes

Question 4

What is the central venous catheter?

Answer 4

Another route of administration

Placed in a large vein: internal jugular vein, subclavian vein, femoral vein

Question 5

What is the tunnelled catheter?

Answer 5

Aka Hickman line
Commonly used for chemotherapy
Doesn’t go staring into a vein

Question 6

What is a implanted port?

Answer 6

Aka port-a-cath

Small disc inserted, don’t see much of this used

Question 7

What is the Peripherally inserted central catheter? (PICC)

Answer 7

Similar to Hickman line
Very close to heart
Do not take BP on the arm with the PICC

Question 8

Explain the types of IV fluids

Answer 8

Isotonic saline: most commonly used for fluid replacement
Balanced crystalloid solutions: may improve replacement/ expansion
Glucose and glucose salines: free water with glucose do
synthetic colloids: expand volume

Question 9

What are the complications of IV therapy?

Answer 9

Infection
Phlebitis- irritation of the vein, may be caused by infection
Tissue infiltration- fluid enters surrounding tissue inserted of the vein

Question 10

When is IV therapy used?

Answer 10

When patient is unable to take fluid/ food orally