Flushing an infiltrated vesicant
NCLEX-RN glossary · Pharmacological And Parenteral Therapies
Definition
The act of injecting fluid into an IV line suspected of being interstitial to verify patency when a vesicant medication is involved.
Flushing an infiltrated vesicant in plain English
This is a high-risk nursing error that increases the volume of the vesicant already in the interstitial space, significantly worsening tissue necrosis. The main trap is the dangerous misconception that 'clearing the line' or checking patency with a flush is safe when the IV site contains a known vesicant.
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