Intravenous infusion therapy and precautions for children

Intravenous infusion is a common medical care method used to supplement fluids and electrolytes, increase circulating blood volume, provide nutrition, and infuse drugs to treat diseases. During intravenous infusion in children, if extravasation or exudation of infusion is not handled in time, it will cause certain pain and harm to the children. Due to the special physiological characteristics of the child group, nurses will inform the children or their families of some precautions when infusing them. We will explain the precautions for intravenous infusion in children from the following points.

1. Correct selection of intravenous access

When choosing an intravenous access for children's infusion, multiple factors need to be considered, such as the child's age, disease condition, purpose of infusion, and duration. The more commonly used intravenous accesses include the dorsal vein of the hand and the forearm vein. Choosing a suitable intravenous access can reduce discomfort during infusion and the risk of complications. When choosing an intravenous access, the morphology and patency of the child's veins need to be carefully checked. Generally speaking, thick, straight, and elastic veins are ideal, while thin, twisted veins are difficult to puncture and fix.

2. Keep the venous access clean and stable

When performing intravenous infusion in children, it is very important to keep the venous access clean and stable. First, the skin at the infusion site needs to be kept clean, disinfectants should be used correctly for local disinfection, and the puncture site should be kept dry. Secondly, when using dressings and medical tape to fix the infusion device and tubing, avoid being too tight or too loose to avoid affecting venous blood flow or causing it to fall off. The high-lift platform method should be used to fix the tubing to avoid skin pressure.

3. Pay attention to the infusion reaction and infusion speed

During the infusion process, nursing staff need to closely observe the child's infusion reaction and infusion speed. Infusion reactions include fever reaction, allergic reaction, acute pulmonary edema, air embolism, etc. Attention should also be paid to the local situation of the puncture point, redness, swelling, nodules, pain, infection, etc. and the child's main complaint. If any abnormality is found, the cause should be found and treated immediately. The infusion speed needs to be adjusted according to the child's age, condition, drug properties or doctor's orders. Usually, the infusion speed for children is 20-40 drops/minute. Too fast or too slow infusion speed will have adverse effects on children. When the infusion speed is too fast, it may lead to serious consequences such as blood volume overload, excessive heart blood volume load, and volumetric pulmonary edema; when the infusion speed is too slow, it may lead to fluid imbalance, liver and kidney damage, or failure to reach effective blood drug concentration, and failure to achieve good therapeutic effects.

4. Replace the infusion device and tubing in a timely manner

Cleaning and replacing the infusion device and infusion line is also a matter that needs to be paid attention to during intravenous infusion in children. The infusion device and line need to be replaced regularly to prevent bacterial growth and infection. The frequency of replacement depends on the condition of the child and the duration of the infusion. Nursing staff are required to replace the infusion device and line correctly to avoid contamination.

5. Pay attention to communication with the patient’s family

Before a child receives intravenous infusion, the nursing staff should fully communicate with the child or family members, strictly fulfill the obligation to inform, explain the purpose, method and process of the infusion, the necessity of the infusion, the expected effects and possible risks, and obtain the cooperation of the family members. Before a child receives intravenous infusion, the nursing staff should provide detailed health guidance and infusion precautions to the child's family members, arrange the infusion time, guide the child's diet and rest, and how to observe the infusion reaction, etc., to ensure that the child and family members understand and comply with the relevant requirements and ensure the safety and effectiveness of the infusion.

6. Ensure proper diet and rest

Diet: When children are receiving intravenous infusion therapy, their normal nutritional needs should be ensured, and they can be given easily digestible foods such as juice, soup, porridge, etc. Avoid overly greasy, irritating or high-fiber foods to avoid indigestion.

Rest: Children should be given adequate rest during their illness. Provide a clean, tidy and comfortable environment for the child during infusion therapy. Provide some toys, reading materials, etc. for younger children to distract their attention and allow the treatment to be completed smoothly.

Intravenous infusion is a common treatment for children, which requires comprehensive consideration and evaluation based on multiple factors such as the child's age, physiological condition, and disease status. I hope that through the introduction of this article, readers will have a better understanding of intravenous infusion for children. The above is only my personal opinion. During the intravenous infusion process, please be sure to cooperate with professional doctors or nurses to ensure that children receive the best treatment, care, and concern during the treatment process. (Wei Xueyan, Shijiazhuang Maternal and Child Health Hospital)