What is Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Placement

A peripheral intravenous (IV) catheter is a small, flexible tube that can be inserted into a vein. You may need an IV catheter in order to:

• Be given fluids, blood, liquid nutrition, or medicine.
• Have certain tests.
• Provide multiple blood samples.

A peripheral IV catheter is usually placed in a vein in the hand or arm, but it can also be placed in a vein in the scalp, leg, or foot.

Tell a health care provider about:

• Any allergies you have.
• All medicines you are taking, including vitamins, herbs, eye drops, creams, and over-the-counter medicines.
• Any problems you or family members have had with anesthetic medicines.
• Any blood disorders you have.
• Any surgeries you have had.
• Any medical conditions you have.
• Any hemodialysis shunts or fistulas you have.
• Whether you have had a mastectomy or axillary node dissection.
• Any blood clots you have in your arms or legs.
• Whether you are pregnant or may be pregnant.

What are the risks?

Generally, this is a safe procedure. However, problems may occur, including:

• Not being able to find a good place for the catheter.
• Pain during catheter placement.
• Slight bruising.

More serious complications are rare, but they can include:

• Pain that does not fade after the catheter is in place.
• Puncture in the wall of the vein.
• Inflammation of the vein (phlebitis).
• Leaking of fluid and medicine from the IV catheter into the skin (infiltration). This may lead to swelling and pain in the area where the IV catheter was.
• Vein damage that causes bleeding under the skin.
• Infection.

What happens before the procedure?

No preparation is needed for this procedure.

What happens during the procedure?

• A germ-killing solution (antiseptic) or swab will be used to clean your skin.
• A numbing medicine (local anesthetic) may be put on the skin where the IV catheter will be placed.
• A tourniquet will be placed above the vein that will be used.
• The vein will be felt and tapped to find the best spot to insert the catheter.
• A sharp needle will be used to enter the vein and place the catheter.
• The catheter will be flushed with a liquid called normal saline to make sure the catheter works.
• The tourniquet and needle will be removed.
• An IV tube may be attached to give fluids, medicine, or blood.
• Samples of blood may be taken for testing.
• Tape or another material will be used to hold the IV catheter in place.

What happens after the procedure?

After the procedure:

• Your health care provider will check the area to make sure:
  • There are no signs of infection.
  • There is no swelling.
  • Fluid is flowing through the catheter properly.
• Your health care provider may remove the tape that holds the IV catheter in place, clean the skin, and replace the tape.
• When you no longer need the catheter, a health care provider will disconnect the IV tubing, remove the catheter, and put a bandage (dressing) over the catheter site.

While the catheter is in:

• Do not get the catheter wet. Ask your health care provider to wrap the catheter if you want to shower.
• Do not pull on the catheter or tubing. This can make the catheter come out from the vein.
• Tell your health care provider right away if:
  • You have pain, redness, swelling, or leakage where the catheter is located.
  • The dressing or tape is loose.
  • The catheter falls out.
  • The catheter or tubing was pulled.

Care After Peripheral Intravenous Catheter Placement

These instructions provide you with information about caring for yourself after your procedure. Your health care provider may also give you more specific instructions.

Your treatment has been planned according to current medical practices, but problems sometimes occur. Call your health care provider if you have any problems or questions after your procedure.

What can I expect after the procedure?

After the procedure, it is common to have:

• Soreness at the catheter site.
• Bruising at the catheter site.

Follow these instructions at home:

General instructions

• Take over-the-counter and prescription medicines only as told by your health care provider.
• There are many different ways to close and cover the puncture site, including stitches, skin glue, and adhesive strips. Follow your health care provider’s instructions about:
  • Puncture site care.
  • Bandage (dressing) changes and removal.
  • Puncture site closure removal.
• Check the puncture site every day for signs of infection. Watch for:
  • Redness, swelling, or pain.
  • Fluid, blood, or pus.

If You Go Home with Your Catheter In:

• Follow instructions from your health care provider about bathing.
• Do not get the catheter wet.
• Do not pull on the catheter or tubing. This can make the catheter come out from the vein.
• Keep all follow-up visits as told by your health care provider. This is important.

Contact a health care provider if:

• You develop a bruise around the puncture site.
• You have redness, swelling, or pain at the puncture site.
• You have fluid, blood, or pus coming from the puncture site.
• You have a fever.
• You went home with the catheter in and:
  • You have pain, redness, swelling, or leakage where the catheter is located.
  • The dressing or tape is loose.
  • The catheter falls out.
  • The catheter or tubing was pulled.
  • The catheter will not flush.
  • The catheter stops working.

Get help right away if:

• You have very bad pain around the puncture site.
• You have red streaks above or below the puncture site.
• You lose feeling or develop weakness in the area of the puncture site.