IV Therapy Flashcards
Infusion therapy
-delivery of meds and solutions by parenteral route
- Intervenous (IV)= most common
Uses for infusion therapy
- nutrients
-maintain fluid balance (or correct) - maintain electrolyte or acid balance (or correct)
-admin meds (ex. Antibiotics) - replace blood or blood products
Isotonic
=equal solute concentration
(No shift in fluids)
-Ex. 0.9% normal saline
- older pt @ risk for fluid overload
Hypotonic
=lower solute concentration
(Fluid shift into the cell)
- pt @ risk for phlebitis and infiltration
- used for dehydration
Hypertonic
= higher solute concentration
(Fluids shift out of the cell)
-ex. Parenteral nutrition
5% dextrose
0.9% normal saline
Blood/ blood components
= blood transfusion
-check compatibility
IV drug therapy
= rapid therapeutic effect
-Ex. Antibiotic= amoxicillin
*special considerations
- dilution
-rate of infusion
-IV compatibility
- appropriate infusion site
Prescribing Infusion Therapy: Fluids
- Type
- Rate(mL/hr)(total amount and hours for infusion)
- Drugs and dose to be added
Prescribing Infusion Therapy: Drugs in IV Fluids
- Drug name
- Specific dose and route
- Frequency of admin
- Time(s) of admin
- Length of time for infusion (#of doses/days)
- Purpose
Phlebitis
=inflammation of vein
-Causes: mechanical- insertion technique
chemical- fluid or med
pathological- break in aseptic technique/ long dwell length
- Clinical man: pain @ sight
Skin= red, inflamed, potentially hard
- Prevention: choose smallest gauge possible
avoid areas of flexion
- Intervention: remove site
heat and elevate extremity
Infiltration
=leakage of non-vesicant solution into surrounding tissues
-Causes: inflammation
puncture of opposite vessel wall
- Clinical Man: skin= cool, tight, tender
fluid leaking from puncture site
-Prevention: stabilize cath
avoid pressure on/near site (ex. Restraints/ bp cuff)
assess frequently
-Intervention: stop infusion, remove site
elevate extremity
cold/warm compress
Extravasation
= leaking of vesicant solution
-Causes: inflammation
puncture of opposite vessel wall
-Clinical man: blistering/tissue sloughing
-Prevention: Stabilize cath
avoid pressure on their site (ex. Restraints and bp cuff)
access frequently
-Intervention: stop infusion
surgical intervention may be necessary
  Thrombosis
= blood clot within vein
-Causes: damage to endothelial lining (traumatic multiple veiny punctures, two large catheter for size of vein)
-Clinical man: swollen extremity
tenderness/redness
slowed/stopped infusion
-Prevention: use EBP vein puncture techniques
- Intervention: stop a infusion, apply cold compress
elevate extremity
potential need for surgical intervention
Site Infection
=infection @ insertion point, port pocket, or subQ tunnel
-Causes: break in aseptic technique
lack of hand hygiene
-Clinical Man: site=red, warm, swollen
potential purulent or odorous exudate
-Prevention: aseptic technique
hand hygiene
-Intervention: clean exit site, remove cath, send for culture, cover w/ dry sterile dressing
Circulatory Overload
(systemic complication)
=excess fluid in the circulatory system
-The infusion rate is > than pts system can accommodate
-Clinical man: SOB, cough, increased BP