Types of Extravasation

When an extravasation occurs, the damage can be severe, causing tissue damage, painful blisters, and/or severe swelling. It can also be mild, resulting in discomfort at the IV site or along the vein, inflammation of the surrounding tissue, and/or redness.

Healthcare professionals classify IV medications as irritants and vesicants. Each hospital develops a list of these “high risk” medications. If you are curious if you are receiving one of these high-risk infusions, ask your care provider.

Extravasation Signs and Symptoms

If a high-risk medication leaks during your IV procedure, you may feel discomfort and see some redness, swelling, or feel itchiness at the IV site. You may also notice blistering, peeling, and darkening of the skin over the site. Be sure to let your doctor or nurse know immediately if you start to feel itching, burning, swelling or stinging around the IV.

Some of the signs of trouble may not be visible until several hours or even days after the leak. Extravasations may not always show these symptoms, depending on how much of the vesicant infiltrates and how the patient responds to the antidote, if one is given.

Extravasation Treatment & Prevention

While the healthcare team will be highly trained in administering chemo drugs and other vesicants, accidents happen. The drug’s classification as an irritant or vesicant will help determine the possible reactions and the actions needed to control the damage.

If the drug is an irritant, the care team will stop the IV, start a new one, and give the rest of the medication through a fresh site. If it’s a vesicant, the team will stop the IV, apply warm or cold compresses, potentially give you an injection to minimize tissue damage, and administer the rest of your treatment through a fresh IV site.

Depending on the severity of the extravasation, your medical team may also try to remove as much of the vesicant as possible by making multiple injections around the insertion site and the area of the extravasation. If the tissue damage is extensive, you may need to see a surgeon.

Early Detection of Extravasations is Key

With infiltration and extravasation events, the earlier they are detected, the more patient harm can be reduced. Learn how ivWatch’s non-invasive technology continuously monitors a patient’s IV site and notifies clinicians of potential infiltration and extravasation events in real time.

Learn more about commonly asked IV questions or how to prepare and care for an IV.