Speaking at Hospital Pharmacy Europe’s Virtual Study Day on IV medicines safety, Andrew Barton shares insights into IV therapy complications. Here, you have exclusive access to the session recording.
As many as 90% of hospital inpatients require some form of vascular access for fluids, medications or blood sampling. Vascular access intravenous (IV) therapy is one of the most invasive procedures a patient will undertake while in hospital and there are a range of associated complications, particularly in patients with difficult IV access.
Andrew Barton is a nurse consultant in IV therapy and vascular access at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust, where he founded and leads a seven-day Intravenous and Vascular Access Services unit. He is also chair of the National Infusion and Vascular Access Society, a board member of MEDUSA – the national electronic injectable medicines guide – and a global committee member of the World Congress of Vascular Access.
In this session, sharing practical evidence and case studies, Andrew considers the risk factors and myriad complications that can arise during IV therapy, such as infections stemming from the exit site or intraluminal space, medical adhesive-related skin injury, central line-associated bloodstream infections, and infiltration and extravasation.
He reviews the latest guidelines and recommendations for preventing and managing these complications, including evidence to support the use of disinfecting caps, prefilled saline syringes and locking catheters, as well as the crucial role of pharmacists in early recognition and intervention.
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