Starting and managing a peripheral IV is one of the most common procedures performed by hospital nurses. Yet, IV infiltration and extravasation injuries remain among the most frequent complications in healthcare—and they are still underrepresented in medical training, tracking, and identifying. Every year, billions of IVs are placed worldwide, with failure rates reaching up to 50%¹. These IV therapy failures can lead to serious patient harm, including tissue damage, nerve injury, medication dosing errors, and even amputation in the most serious scenarios.
Experience doesn’t eliminate risk—IV injuries can occur in any setting, to any provider, regardless of skill level. The root causes are complex, and without proper education on IV therapy safety, infiltration identification and prevention around severity of these injuries, combined with extravasation risk factors, preventable harm continues.
Clinical teams are taught to rely on a good blood return and an easy saline flush as indicators of a sound IV. However, these checks alone are no longer reliable safeguards. Extravasation injuries can be evolving despite a positive blood return and an easy saline flush.
To address this educational gap, a new visual tool has been developed to clearly illustrate how and why infiltrations and extravasations occur. The video walks through the key mechanisms behind IV failure and explains why long-standing practices like “trusting the flush” are no longer sufficient. It reinforces the importance of proactive assessment, appropriate device selection, and early detection.
These events are more common than many realize, and it’s only a matter of time before most clinicians see one in practice. Don’t be caught off guard. Education is the first step, but it cannot stand alone. Preventing IV infiltration and extravasation severity also requires tools that support clinicians at the bedside, especially when early signs of failure are not visible or easily detected.
Continuous patient monitoring technology offers an added layer of safety by helping identify changes at the IV site sooner, before injury progresses. When paired with strong clinical judgment, standardized protocols, and ongoing education, these technologies can help shift IV care from a reactive response to a proactive approach—reducing harm and supporting safer outcomes for every patient.
Be an advocate. Start by educating yourself, share this resource with your colleagues, socialize with hospital leadership on the why, and help strengthen IV safety for every patient.
1https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lanhae/article/PIIS2352-3026(21)00206-4/abstract