'IV' or 'Intravenous Catheters'

摘要

This article explains briefly what the so-called "IV" is and why it is used by your anesthesiologist (the doctor putting you asleep for surgery) or the nurse on the hospital ward. What is an “IV” The “hospital I.V.” stands for intravenous line. Intravenous means “into a vein”. A vein is the type of blood vessels in your body bringing blood towards the heart. Certain kinds of treatments require medications or fluids to be given through a vein. For such treatments an intravenous line needs to be placed. Small plastic tubes called catheters are placed into a vein when an IV is needed. Frequent Reasons For Placing IV Catheters To give fluids To give blood or blood products To give medications which cannot be taken by mouth e.g. pain medication, certain types of antibiotics .etc What Kind Of Equipment Is Needed To Place An “IV”?A rubber band (called tourniquet) is placed around your arm to stop the blood flow and make your veins (blood vessels) appear larger. Alcohol pads are used to clean your skin. A syringe with some numbing medicine (called local anesthetic) with a very tiny needle is used to numb the skin. A small tube (called catheter) is used to get fluids and medicine into your vein. This small catheter is together with a needle which is being used to get the catheter into your vein. Once in your vein, the catheter stays and the needle is removed. A bandage is finally put on your skin to protect the “IV” site. The “IV” is connected to some tubing with an “IV” bag (or several bags).