What are IV Supplies?
IV Supplies refer to a host of medical items and products that are used in IntraVenous (IV) therapy, which is a medical procedure through which any liquid substance is directly inserted into the veins. ‘Intravenous’ implies ‘within a vein’ and these therapies are commonly referred to as ‘drip’ mainly because most doctors use a drip chamber for the therapy. The IV route is the most preferred, fastest and safest route of administration of drugs and blood transfusion. This is achieved through a number of IV supplies that play a pivotal role in effective patient management.
Types of IV Supplies
1. Needles and Syringes: The hollow hypodermic needles offer the most common mode of passing the liquid directly into the veins. The needle can be either connected to the syringe or comes pre-attached with the syringe. Usually, injections are administered through syringe and needle. However, this combination may also be used to extract blood from the body for various clinical tests. The needle can also be connected to a tubing length for administration of saline (with or without medication).
2. IV Stands: Also known as IV poles, these stands feature multiple legs on their base to achieve stability. Additionally, these poles also feature multiple hooks on top in order to hang the liquid containers so that the container empties completely before it is replaced, if required.
3. Infusion Set: An infusion set is integral medical equipment used in conjunction with insulin pump as part of intensive insulin therapy in diabetic patients. It features a tubing system, which connects an insulin pump with the patient’s skin. It also features a subcutaneous cannula, an adhesive mount, and a pump cartridge connector, which facilitate in the delivery of insulin under the patient’s skin.
4. Sponges and Pads: The sponges and pads form an indispensable part of IV supplies, as they are responsible for preventing the exposure of the pricked portion on the skin. The injection or blood collection process may render the injected spot on the skin vulnerable to infections. Moreover, the blood also tends to drip from the injected spot. The sponges or the cotton balls are used to prevent any infection and stop blood loss from the injected spot. Usually, these pads are dipped in an antiseptic lotion to achieve sterilization. Alternatively a transparent film dressing may also be used to cover the injected spot. These can be easily stuck on the skin.
