INTRAVENOUS INFUSION — A FASTER ACTING RELIEF ON PATIENTS

DESCRIPTION & METHOD

· The Term Intravenous means “Into the Veins”. This IV administration is through a thin plastic tube called as IV Catheter, that is inserted into the Veins.

· Intravenous Infusion is a process of Solution administered into a Vein through an Infusion set that includes a Plastic or Glass vacuum Bottle or a Bag containing the solution and tube connecting the bottle to a Catheter or a Needle in the patient’s vein. This Intravenous method passes the saline or the drugs directly into the blood stream / veins of the patient for their quick and fast improvement. When a drug is infused intravenously at a constant rate, a Plateau concentration is reached progressively at a determined time interval.

· Intravenous Therapy delivers liquid substances directly into veins without wastage of time. This Intravenous route of administration can be used either through Injections or through Infusions, which is commonly known as ‘DRIPS’.

Some medications are given through Intravenous Injection or Infusion using a Needle entering the veins for fast relief and betterment of the patient.

· Intravenous administration is the method of fluid replacement into the vein directly with a view to maintain fluids and electrolytes balance in the body or to correct fluids volume deficits after excessive loss of body fluids in the patient, when the patients are “unable to take the medications ORALLY”.

· Intravenous is defined as an additional use for prolonged Nutritional support of patients, especially those with gastrointestinal dysfunction / disorder. The fluids flow rate is infused by proper medical prescription and care by the Hospital staff.

· There are many liquids given through Intravenous i.e. IV Infusion, which includes Isotonic normal saline, Ringer Lactate, Dextrose / Glucose with 5% water, Potassium chloride 0.2% in5% Dextrose. This solution is continuously administered at the rate of 1 to 2 liters per day. This Intravenous solution is given in the Arm through the median basilica or median cephalic vein. The solution is delivered into the patient’s vein with proper dosage and requisite fluids and electrolytes at the prescribed time by the Hospital staff.

· The Nurse, after initiating the Infusion ensures that the correct fluid is being administered at a designated flow rate by proper adjustment of the knob on the catheter tube and observes the infusion rate site and the patient every hour for any signs of ‘Infiltration or Complications” during the process of Infusion, to avoid any ‘Infection on the patient’.

· Lastly, Intravenous administration of fluids through a Vein of a patient is the final method used for Feeding the patient, when the patient is suffering from “Severe Dehydration”, or Chronic intestinal Dysfunction, especially when the patient’s heart rate is functioning but he is in an “Unconscious state of health” and “does not / Unable to drink fluids orally”. Those are the type of patients receiving an IV Infusion who are recovering from an Operation, Unable to swallow solids through mouth, or vomiting persistently.

· IV Infusion is the safest method for patients recouping of health and survival at a faster rate and highly recommended by the Hospital specialists.