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Discussion

IV Flushes

Hey Guys,

This is most likely the craziest question ever, haha?

So today I was flushing my patient's IV and after I had finished flushing I decided to check for blood return (which I normally do before I flush) but for some reason this time I didn't, there was no blood return.

So you know when you pull back on a plunger after it is on the patient's IV it has suction and if you don't get any blood return there is that empty space in the syringe that snaps back when you let it go because of suction....what is in that empty space before it snaps back?

Anyway, I thought DID I JUST PUSH AIR IN MY PATIENT???? Then I thought no you can't pull air out of your patient, so you can't push it back in, calm down!

So I still want to know what would you consider that empty space you see? What's in there???

I'm such a geek, I know!

Thanks :)

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    • Featured Replies

    It's a vacuum! /Admiral Akbar

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    It would take a lot of air to do any damage to someone from a peripheral iv, so don't worry about that. :).

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    I've heard it take a whole line of air filled IV tubing to do any harm.

    Also, try flushing 4-5cc, then draw back for the blood return, then finish the flush...gives a little more suction that way

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    vacume i beleive

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    • Author

    Thanks so much guys! So helpful :)

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    Vacuum and it typically takes 10-20ml/min of air depending upon the medical history.

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