PERIPHERAL CATHETER INSERTION

Image Source: https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/peripheral-venous-catheter

What is peripheral catheter?

Every patient who is admitted in the hospital requires intravenous access for injection.
It is a soft pvc catheter inserted commonly into the veins of the forearm and hand. It is fixed with dressing material so it don’t displace and can be maintained for a prolonged period of time.

Why it is done?

Antibiotics, fluids and injectable drugs needs administration into the vein through this catheter. It is used for all kind of injections.

How it is done?

It is inserted by a skilled person into one of the vein of forearm and hand usually. The vein is dilated by a tourniquet first, once the vein is dilated it is cleaned by a spirit swab and than appropriate size catheter is inserted into the vein. Once adequate blood flow is present and flush fluid goes easily into the vein, the peripheral catheter is fixed with the micropore or tegaderm.

What is the risk?

Any peripheral line inserted into the vein tends to block or get out of the vein over a period of time. Large bore catheters are usually long lasting. Small caliber catheter tends to block easily. If the catheter is not inside the vein and the fluid continue to run into the catheter, it leads to swelling of limb around the insertion site.

The blockage of the catheter occurs due to the constituent of the fluid passing through it. It the fluid has lots of crystal than it blocks the catheter lumen.
And when the catheter is not used than also it tends to block spontaneously.

In an old, very small babies and thin and lean patients as well very obese patients it is difficult to get an intravenous access. Old people have very thin skin, so the catheter slips out of the vein easily. In obese patients , it is difficult to find the vein so is true for patient with dark complexion. In small babies the vein are very tiny to accommodate the catheter, so there are special pediatric catheters available for this population. Such catheter are many a time used for adult patients also to secure a difficult access.