within a vein

An intravenous line (IV) is a soft, flexible tube placed inside a vein, usually in the hand or arm. Health care providers use IV lines to give a person medicine or fluids.

In many places throughout the US, you can request IV fluids and you’ll get them. A nurse or physician’s assistant will place an IV catheter in your arm and you’ll receive IV fluids right at home, in your office, or at your hotel room.

There are three types of IV fluids: isotonic, hypotonic, and hypertonic.

• Isotonic Solutions. Isotonic solutions are IV fluids that have a similar concentration of dissolved particles as blood.
• Hypotonic Solutions. Hypotonic solutions have a lower concentration of dissolved solutes than blood.
• Hypertonic Solutions.

The most common site for an IV catheter is the forearm, the back of the hand or the antecubital fossa. The catheters are for peripheral use and should be placed where veins are easy to access and have good blood flow, although the easiest accessible site is not always the most suitable.

Complications of entering the artery with a large cannula intended for venous cannulation can result in complications such as temporary occlusion, pseudoaneurysm and haematoma formation. [6] Unrecognized arterial injection of anaesthetic drugs can cause tissue ischaemia and necrosis.

The preferred sites for IV cannulation

1. Hand. Dorsal arch veins.
2. Wrist. Volar aspect.
3. Cubital fossa. Median antecubital, cephalic and basilic veins.
4. Foot. Dorsal arch.
5. Scalp. Scalp veins should only be used once other alternatives are exhausted.

Peripheral IV Catheter Chart

One of the of the important things to know when starting an IV is the proper needle size to use. IV needles are sized by gauges, and the smaller the gauge number, the bigger the needle will be.

Various needle lengths are available for any given gauge. Needles in common medical use range from 7 gauge (the largest) to 33 (the smallest).

For intravenous IG (IVIG), most nurses use a 20-, 22- or 24-gauge needle. IV needles are universally color- coded for gauge. The most common color needles for IVIG are pink for 20-gauge, blue for 22-gauge and yellow for 24-gauge.

Needle gauge table

A higher gauge (smaller inner diameter) leads to a higher resolution….Plastic (Straight 0.25″, 0.5″, or 1.0″)

The needle gauge becomes a consideration when the vein of the patient is narrow, fragile, or superficial. In such cases, a gauge size with a LARGER number (eg, 25 G) may be preferred over a routine needle gauge (eg, 21 G) to minimize damage to the blood vessel, as well as minimize the associated pain with collection.

The smallest, thinnest needle is the nano 4mm, 32 gauge needle, which is about as thin as two strands of hair.

For example, 25G ½ refers to a 25 gauge, ½ inch-long needle. Longer needles (½ inch or longer) are commonly used for intramuscular injections, while shorter (shorter than ½ inch) needles are more often used for intravenous injections. Different sized needles are used for different purposes.

If a needle is a 20 gauge it is bigger around with a larger hole than a 22 gauge.

20–22 gauge for routine transfusions in adults. 16–18 gauge for rapid transfusions in adults. In adult patients with fragile or difficult veins, a smaller gauge can be used, but may restrict the flow rate. 22–25 gauge is recommended for pediatrics.

What Wire Gauge Sizes Affect. Beyond international standards, another source of confusion is why wire gauge sizes appear to be backwards of what they should be—as the physical width of the gauge increases the numerical value assigned to it decreases. The explanation goes back to the original process of wire drawing.

These are regular-walled medical point needles. They are for intramuscular, subcutaneous, and other injections and are available in a wide range of gauges and lengths. They have an oversized chrome plated luer lock hub.

the colors are not universal! 20 gauge jelcos are pink; 20 gauge bd insytes are green. some manufacturers use different color codes. you can always call central supply and ask them what they are stocking and what the color codes of the needles are.

18 Gauge Needles are Mostly used to draw medication from vials or single-use medication vials. This information is for Both Patients and Caregivers who need to self-administer or administer an Injection.

Sizes of catheters

21 (green) and 23 (blue) gauge needles are most commonly used. The needle should be held at a 90° angle to the skin (see diagram) and gently aspirated preinjection to ensure that the needle has not entered a blood vessel.

Needle Gauge Chart

25 to 30