peripheral IV flushing

[Lostinthisworld]

Hi nurses, Im having a bad feeling since yesterday because of an IV flushing, my patient happened to had a backflow on IV line because her IV INfusion was consumed and I was not able to return immediately, i tried to flush the smartside with saline and i was able to push less than 1ml of it, the resistance is not that much, but the patients commentary kept me paranoid and asking did the clot go inside my body, i tried to keep calm but its still at the back of my mind. Is it really possible that the an emboli might be formed due to the flushing i did. Thank You for the help

[mrsboots87]

Lienly no. Could it push a clot that was already formed? Sure. But this seems unlikely as an infusion had just completed. It honestly sounds like the IV probably infiltrated. But without being there, that's purely speculation based on the info given.

Also, if you had released a clot, you would likely know very quickly. It would either move to the heart and lungs pretty quickly and cause problems, or it would get stuck somewhere and cause further problems. Try not to worry so much.

Was as your nurse there with you? Did they seem concerned? Base how worried you should be on how the nurse acted. Also, study up in IV complications. This will likely ease your mind a bit.