Do you know what you are really infusing into your patients’ veins? Why not?

1. Do you know what you are really infusing into your patients’ veins? Why not? Sara Fort, RN , VA-BC Abstract It is well known that specific infusions may cause harm when delivered through peripheral vascular devices. Clinicians who prescribe or infuse these specific infusions may be unaware and may place patients at risk of harm. Whose job is it to say, “No, not that vascular device?” Risk factors such as thrombosis, infiltrations, phlebitis, and extravasations may occur when these infusions are delivered through a peripheral vein. With the drive to reduce central lines, we have put our patients at risk of vascular injury from infusions delivered through peripheral vascular devices. Much research has focused on the prevention of infections, complications, and vascular access devices, and less on matching infusions with proper vascular devices to prevent patient complications. Concern for patient care plus the rise in lawsuits from patient complications, means this issue demands the attention of health professionals. Flow of Potential Harm Methods to Make Change Happen • Relationship with hospital pharmacists, physicians, and nursing to discuss patient safety regarding infusions. • Investigate the patient’s medical record and see the length of expected stay. • Speak directly to physicians ordering infusions and make them aware of the risks involved when giving certain infusions via the peripheral veins. Suggest the correct access. • Educate primary nurses about the increased risk of certain infusions helping them to better understand the rationale to check peripheral vascular access sites frequently. Current Interdisciplinary Approach to Correct Vascular Access Choices • The patient requires antibiotics, fluids or nutritional replacement, chemotherapy, etc… • The physician orders the infusion. • The pharmacist checks the order and sends the infusion to the patient’s unit. • The vascular access is previously or newly obtained by IV team or staff nurse. • Primary nurse hangs the infusion. • After the infusion is hung the decisions are made as to the correct vascular device closer to discharge or after complications have decreased available access. Hold a Hot Pot Imagine that your hands and the pot holder are your vein. How long could you hold a very hot cast iron pot until you had to put it down or risk burning your hands? Chemical Injury Mast cells found in all connective tissues are granular cells whose actions include being released with inflammation; such as when chemical injury occurs from infusions,. Where to Find Available Infusion Information Infusions that May Cause Harm How many infusions before the vein says, “too much?” • Infusion package inserts • Pharmacological books • FDA • Websites Who is checking the pH, osmolarity, and viscosityof these infusions? Results • No change will happen, unless the nurse speaks up. • Change of process, such as using the correct vascular device, depends on either the primary or vascular access nurse speaking up in the situation, preventing patient harm. • Physicians who answer, “We have always done it this way,” do not have the right answer based upon possible risk to patient outcomes. • No change will happen, unless the physician listens. Objectives • To increase awareness of the risk of peripheral complications from infusions that really belong in central vascular devices. • To prevent patient harm by educating nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and the patients by making correct choices in vascular access devices. Our patients place trust in us that we are infusing medication to get them well and not cause harm. Suggested Interdisciplinary Approach to Correct Vascular Access Choices • Patient requires specific infusion. The patient might receive one or two peripheral doses before team can meet. • Physician, nurse, and pharmacists discuss the need and length of time for the specific infusion as close to admission as possible. • As soon as possible a better vascular device is placed for the specific infusion based upon the expected length of admission, pH, osomolarity, and vascular condition of the patient. • Improved outcomes and benefits from evaluating vascular access early is less delay of infusions, less complications, improved patient satisfaction, and possible earlier discharge. Conclusion • Providing safer outcomes for patients through the education of health professionals on vascular infusions and correct vascular devices is the right thing to do. • Lawsuits averaging $100,000 are on the rise from patients receiving harm from peripheral vascular devices or complications from infusions. • It is up to every health care professional to know and question: Is this infusion safe to go into a peripheral device? • It is up to every healthcare individual develop an index or resources of known infusions that place the patient at risk of potential harm and be proactive in placing correct devices. • Size counts in variation in blood flow rate • Small vessels/capillaries 1ml/minute • Medium vessels 16 ml/minute • Large vessels 256 ml/minute • Flow is dependent upon gravitational pressure, venous pressure and the health of the vessels. Blood is a Buffer What we add to the blood changes and affects the vessels health. The rate, flow, and frequency of these infusions over time may cause harm. Blood Vessel Structure 3 layers of vessel walls: • Tunica intima • Tunica media • Tunica advenitia REFERENCES Dolan SA, Felizardo G, Barnes S, Cox TR, Patrick M, Ward KS, Arias KM. APIC position paper: safe injection, infusion, and medication vial practices in health care. American Journal of Infection Control. 2010 Apr;38(3):167-72. • FDA, Vancomycin infusion development, pages 1 to 15 • http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2009/050671s014lbl.pdf • Gahart BL, Nazareno AR. VancomycinHydrochloride. In Gahart BL, Nazareno AR. (editors) 2013 Intravenous Medications. 29th Edition, pages 1162-1166. Elsevier, Mosby: St. Louis, Missouri. 2013. •  Hadaway LC. Anatomy and Physiology Related to Infusion Therapy. In Alexander M, Corrigan A, Gorski L, Hankins J, Perucca R. (editors) Infusion Nursing: An Evidence-Based Approach. 3rd Edition, Chapter 10, pages 139-175. Elsevier, Saunders: St. Louis, Missouri. 2010. • Perucca R. Peripheral Venous Access Devices. In Alexander M, Corrigan A, Gorski L, Hankins J, Perucca R. (editors) Infusion Nursing: An Evidence-Based Approach. 3rd Edition, Chapter 23, pages 456-479. Elsevier, Saunders: St. Louis, Missouri. 2010. • Stranz M. Adjusting pH and Osmolarity Levels to Fit Standards and Practices. JVAD Fall 2002 • Stranz M. Understanding pH and Osmolarity of Infusion Solutions: What is Reasonable? Presented at the 15th Annual National Association of Vascular Access Networks Conference. January 19, 2002. Alexandria, Virginia Stranz M. Kastango ES. A Review of pH and Osmolarity. International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding. 2002 May-June;6(3):216-220. • Trissel LA. VancomycinHydrocloride. In Trissel LA. (author) Handbook of Injectable Drugs. 15th Edition, pages 1548-1562. ASHP:  Bethesda, Maryland.  2009. • Turner MS, Hankins J. Pharmacology. In Alexander M, Corrigan A, Gorski L, Hankins J, Perucca R. (editors) Infusion Nursing: An Evidence-Based Approach. 3rd Edition, Chapter 15, pages 263-298. Elsevier, Saunders: St. Louis, Missouri. 2010. • Special thank you to Kim Carmel for designing this ePoster.