Principles and Practice of Intravenous Therapy - Assignment Example

 Microorganisms could attach themselves to the hands of the medical practitioner or from the skin of the patient. Studies have been done seeking to establish the most effective way of administering and subsequently monitoring peripheral I.V. to reduce the risk of possible infections. These studies have recommended that peripheral I.V. cannula should stay in situ for not longer than 72 hours save for special cases where it can stay for not more than 96 hours (Finlay 48). It should be checked every 8 hours. Isotonic saline maintenance fluid would help for a patient with a low ECF volume especially if it has come with hemodynamic collapse. Where the reduced ECF is accompanied by low plasma sodium concentration, Hypertonic saline is best suited.

Anesthetized patients will usually have reduced blood pressure when no ECF volume is contracted. This is because anesthesia reduces venous tone. Such hypotension would be curbed by using isotonic saline(Weinstein and Ada 61). Electrolyte-free water should be used in cases of patients with a high water deficit in their ICF compartment. This ought to be guided by the level of plasma sodium concentration; usually when it exceeds 140mN.It is possible to administer two drugs using one syringe or IV line.

The remains of the first drug and the diluent should not change the second drug. When this happens, the two drugs are said to be incompatible. Drug incompatibility check seeks to identify the presence of precipitate or gas that result from the combination of two drugs. If the drug does not remain intact within 24 hours, it could also be an indication of incompatibility. Y-site compatibility check uses a 1:1 mixture of solutions whose concentrations are provided. Admixture compatibility check, on the other hand, combines the test masses of two drugs in various diluents (Finlay 49).

Peripheral IV catheters are used widely in administering drugs and parenteral nutrition. They are also used to access venipuncture. It is important to maintain their patency to mitigate the cost of replacement and discomfort. Solutions of varying heparin strengths are used to flush these catheters. Heparin reduces the risk of clots in the lumen thereby maintaining the patency of catheters. Heparin is supposed to be used with caution.