Almost everyone will have an IV placed at some point in their lives, as 90% of medical procedures and hospital admissions require an IV. Patients often think that once an IV is placed nothing can go wrong, blindly trusting the IV to silently do its job without fail. Unfortunately, 50% of them do fail and patients are unaware of the potential risks and harm that can happen when the IV “goes bad”. IV therapy can be such a small part of clinician education and insidious symptoms are often overlooked or misdiagnosed. Your healthcare team is there to support you, but they can’t see under your skin or feel your discomfort. It’s crucial to work together to manage your care.
What is IV Infiltration and Extravasation?
The most common cause of IV failure is when the medication or treatment being delivered intravenously does not fully make it into the vein but instead leaks into the surrounding tissue. This is a serious complication if not caught and treated quickly, it can lead to harrowing consequences, including nerve damage, scarring, and even amputation or death in the most extreme examples. That’s why it is important to know how to advocate for yourself or a loved one effectively when receiving an IV.
IV Tips to Consider:
Speak Up About Pain or Concerns
While some discomfort during IV placement is normal, severe pain, burning, or swelling isn’t. If something feels wrong during or after placement, alert your healthcare team immediately.
Watch for Signs of Infiltration
When fluid leaks into surrounding tissue you still start to see signs such as swelling, coolness, discoloration, or pain around the IV site. Don’t ignore these symptoms hoping they’ll improve, let your healthcare team know. If these symptoms persist, continue to escalate your concerns to your care team.
Request Comfort Measures
Many hospitals offer numbing cream, ultrasound guidance for IV placement, and peripheral IV monitoring technology. You can ask about these options, especially if you have anxiety about needles or have had difficult IV experiences in the past.
Tell Your Medical Team About Past IV Experiences
Many patients have had challenging IV experiences – perhaps your veins are difficult to find, you’ve had IVs fail, or certain locations work better than others. Share this information upfront with your care team. This history helps guide placement and can prevent unsuccessful attempts.
Know Your Vein Access Rights
Most hospitals have policies about the maximum number of IV attempts before escalating to someone with more expertise, typically after 2-3 tries. You have the right to request a different provider or ask for someone who specializes in difficult IV access, such as the IV or Vascular Access team. Don’t feel obligated to endure multiple unsuccessful attempts if you’re uncomfortable.
Document Multiple Attempts
If you regularly need IVs, consider keeping a record of successful and unsuccessful placement attempts. Note which veins worked well, which didn’t, and any techniques that helped. This information becomes valuable for future procedures and can help healthcare providers develop a better plan for your care.
Ask for IV Monitoring
It is your right to ask about your care. Ask your healthcare team what their IV monitoring policy is. How often do they assess the IV? What are they looking for? You can also ask for your IV to be assessed more often or ask if they have ivWatch, a peripheral IV monitoring technology to let you and your provider know at the earliest stage that something is wrong with your IV site.
Remember, you are an essential part of your healthcare team working alongside your doctors and nurses. You are all on the same team. While medical professionals have expertise in IV placement, you have expertise in your own body and experiences. Combining these perspectives leads to better outcomes and more comfortable care experiences.
Being your own advocate doesn’t mean being confrontational – it means being informed, communicative, and proactive about your care. Healthcare providers generally appreciate patients who can clearly communicate their needs and history, as it helps them provide better care.
Following these tips and maintaining open communication with your team can help ensure more successful IV experiences and better overall care. Your comfort and safety matter, and you have every right to actively participate in your medical treatment.