Is this normal?

[Ms.RN]

Pt had an iv inserted for abt therapy then her iv was removed. Now she ha a small hard lump where she had her iv. She said iy doesnt hurt.can an iv inserion cause this kind of lump?

[Jolie, BSN]

I would be concerned that this might represent a complication of IV therapy. If the patient is still hospitalized, the site should be assessed, a set of vitals taken and the physician notified.

If she has been discharged, I would caution her not to rub the site and to contact her physician.

[Asystole RN]

Sounds like a scar. Happens time to time. What gauge PIV, location, how long ago was the PIV there, and size of the lump?

[nurseprnRN, BSN, RN]

i last had a peripheral iv in my hand oh, fifteen years ago. still have that little lump-- just a scar. if it's not reddened and painful and doesn't become so, i'd forget about it.

[maelstrom143]

I agree it might just be scar tissue, but I document the finding and let the PCP know during rounds. Sometimes they will say "dc home and follow up w/primary doctor for site assessment/follow-up" and sometimes doc will want to see site before they dc patient home.

I like to document the site, appearance, what patient said, when doc notified, and what was the response, in case patient gets readmitted later on and says "I complained and no one did anything" (often have had FFs c/o previous admission and how "nothing was done"; if you document it, it was done and can always be reviewed).