Intravenous catheters are medical instruments that are tube-shaped and are used for the administration of drugs, as well as washing vessels and natural channels. Each catheter is equipped with a needle that is inserted into the vein cavity, and a special tube through which fluid enters the body. Such medical devices must be fixed on the skin of a person, so they are attached using suture material or a regular patch.
Indications for the use of a catheter:
- the need for transfusion of blood components;
- emergency conditions that require quick access to the bloodstream;
- parenteral nutrition ;
- hydration or overhydration of the body;
- fast and accurate administration of the drug in the desired concentration.
Types of Catheters
There are soft and hard
intravenous catheters . Soft ones include catheters made from rubber or polyvinyl chloride; as a rule, such instruments are used in various therapeutic and surgical procedures. Rigid catheters are made of metal, which makes it possible to effectively use them for diagnostic purposes. All vascular catheters are divided into central and peripheral, in turn, the latter are divided into arterial and venous. A peripheral intravenous catheter mounted on superficial veins can solve many medical problems, while the risk of patient injury is minimal. Using this device, you can enter the necessary drugs directly into the circulatory system, as well as carry out detoxification or blood sampling for laboratory tests. An intravenous catheter with a port allows the administration of additional drug solutions without re-introducing the needle.
Intravenous manipulations involving a venous catheter:
- the introduction of medicinal solutions to patients who are not able to take oral medications;
- Conducting frequent intravenous therapy for chronic diseases;
- An invasive study of blood pressure;
- blood transfusion ;
- blood sampling for clinical tests, which make it possible to determine liver function indicators, glucose tolerance, plasma drug content, as well as to study electrolytes, urea and derive a blood formula;
- quick access to the bloodstream for emergency infusion of drugs at high speed.
Catheterization
Intravenous catheters are made from the latest hypoallergenic materials, which are intended for single use, which simplifies the work of medical professionals and ensures maximum sterility. The effectiveness of intravenous therapy largely depends on correctly selected venous access, taking into account the preferences of the patient himself, and also determines the best puncture site and the degree of suitability of the selected vessel. It should be noted that intravenous catheters are widely used in various fields of modern medicine: resuscitation, anesthesiology, urology, general surgery, gynecology, therapy, gastroenterology and numerous diagnostic procedures.