Question

Your patient's peripheral IV has stopped running There is no redness, edema or pain at the IV site What steps would you take to assess and reestablish patency of the site

Answer 1

Let's look at the given question, it says that, there is no swelling, redness, or pain at the iv site, so it is evident that there are no complications such as extravasation, infiltrationor any infection. So we have to suspect that there is a block formed in the line, such as an air bubble(venous air embolism=a serious complication)

The patency of iv line can be easily checked by administering an iv flush, (sterile saline solution).

An iv flush aid in removing any block and helps easy running of saline/re establishes it's flow.

But, If air embolism is suspected, immediately place the patient in left lateral decubitis and trendlenberg position, which can prevent right ventricular outflow obstruction by Preventing the air from travelling to the right side of the heart Into the pulmonary arteries.