Driving a vehicle while receiving IVIG infusion.

[RN'd]

Hi there,

I recently just started working for a home health agency giving IV infusions. One of my clients receives a 8 hr IVIG infusion for ICDP. He has been receiving this therapy for over a year and does not experience adverse side effects to the medication. My problem lays in that, during his 6 hr infusion he feels he needs to drive somewhere. I have told him that I did not think it was safe. But honestly I'm erring on the side of safety because I don't know if there is any reason he shouldn't be able to drive. He is highly functional, totally stable while receiving his infusion, and otherwise fairly active in his house during the infusion. I hate to have to put the brakes (pun intended) on his functionality and quality of life, especially if it is not needed. I hear about people receiving IVIG infusions while at work, so I'm wondering whether or not my reservations to let him drive a short distance are unwarranted so long as his tubing and IV are secure.

I am aware that I cannot keep him in his house against his will. Is all I can do voice my disapproval and insist to stop the infusion and document that he chose to leave while his infusion was running?

What do you think? I would appreciate some feedback on this. Thanks!

[traumaRUs, MSN, APRN]

I guess this is going to show my lack of knowledge on this subject: do you stay with him for 8 hours? Why doesn't he do the infusion himself? If he receives home health, I thought he had to be house-bound?

[kids]

Home infusion services are different that traditional home health in that it doesn't require home bound status.

Home infusion is often both a cost and convenience issue, it's cheaper to contract a nurse to go to the home to do an infusion than it is to send a patient to an infusion center.

As for the original question, the OP is going to have to go with what makes them comfortable. IVIG doesn't carry the 'hazardous activity' warning that many drugs do. I can tell you from experience that there are a awful lot of people out there doing their own IVIG (and other drug) infusions going about their normal daily routines.