Giving IV infusions

[crit care]

thanks Nik! can't take any more for 1 evening!

[Asterix]

Aarrgh - you are still not getting the concept of a PICC line. It's inserted peripherally but the tip of the line rests in the vena cava. If you give something peripherally the tip of the line will be in the periphery i.e small veins.

so its for central drugs yeah!!

the peripheral bit confused me!

[Asterix]

so just a summary of how to give drugs by line:

peripheral - cannula, venflon
central - cannula, venflon, picc line, cvc

have i got it

[Nik]

Central administration is via central venous catheters which include picc lines, hickmann lines. Cannulas used peripherally are not the same as devices used to administer drugs (or fluids) centrally. If you look at a cannula, in particular its size, you'll see why they aren't appropriate for central use.

[crit care]

Asterix, the main thing you need to take away from this, is that there are 2 types of IV administration..central and peripheral, and you need to be aware of the different drugs you can give down each line and what the factors are which determine which drugs go down each line...not all drugs which can be given centrally can go peripherally, but drugs given peripherally can be given centrally...just to confuse you

don't get hung up on names of devices, be aware of them but it won't make or break you as a pharmacist

[Nik]

Problem is you are asking too many questions on an online forum, so you are limited in the responses you get - you can't learn everything from what we tell you. Ask your tutors, pharmacists you work with, speak to nurses on the wards about peripheral and central access (you're doing pre-reg in hospital man !), basically be more proactive about these kinds of things instead of limiting yourself to constant questions.

[Asterix]

point taken. thanks guys.