Hello, I hope someone can help me with this question. I am a nursing student and it's been bothering me for a long time. What happens to air that enters the blood stream through a peripheral IV? I understand how the air can become an embolism, but my question is related to the scientific or physiologic mechanism that happens in the body that prevents complications. I have seen many air bubbles enter through PIVs and the people are fine. I just wonder, what really happens to the bubbles once in the body?
*Does the air bubble get absorbed somehow in the body? If so, how? Or, how does the body get rid of the small bubbles?
I've read in other forums that the lungs filter the bubbles but I don't understand exactly how, since I thought the blood stays separate from actual air in the alveoli. And also, the bubble would have to pass the right heart before getting to the lungs.
sadly, not all hospitals here in our country uses IV pumps...
what about antibiotic or amino acid sidedrips that are infusing only for 30 minutes? what if it run dry? Does a small amount of fluid still remain on their bottles?
Yes - so long as the bottles/bags are not below the level of the heart. Venous pressure is higher than atmospheric pressure - which is why if you cut/enter a vein, the blood comes out.... air doesn't get sucked in.
Physics is physics - no matter which part of the world you're in It is also the reason piggy-backs are hung at a higher level than main fluid :)
my wife is 29 and from el salvador when she was 24 prior to arriving here in the us she recieved an iv but she claims the nurse did not remove air from something injected into the line she then watched as a bulge formed where the iv was inserted and watched the bulge travel up her arm she then felt it enter her chest became very nauseated and faint. To this day she gets pain or cramp type feeling below or at her left breast any chance some damage could have been done or has anyone heard of this before my wife says the nurse just watched as well maybe it was nothing hoping someone can help thank you
Most doctors and nurses think it takes 5-10 ccs of air to cause any problems. Even small amounts of air infused over time can cause lung and tissue damage and lead to pulmonary hypertension. Tiny air bubbles cause traumatic tissue damage. Air infused into the patient no matter how tiny is potentially harmful in the long run.
Roy Fokker, BSN, RN
1 Article; 2,011 Posts
Physics is physics - no matter which part of the world you're in
It is also the reason piggy-backs are hung at a higher level than main fluid :)
cheers,