emdmac

So is it an acceptable practice to use IV bags? I would think that they would roll and not stay in place, and that they are not heavy enough to maintain adequate pressure above the incision area. My director told us it was unreliable and could lead to encouraging the developement of pseudo-aneurysms. I just wondered how often IV bags are used, and if they are reliable and authorized as acceptable.

I was wondering what med surg nurses are allowed in your areas to use for applying pressure after the removal of a heart cath in a femoral artery. Someone told me they used 2 IV bags in a pillow case. I had never heard of that before and don't see how that could work. I thought the belt, the clamp, sandbags or manual hand pressure was allowed. Just curious.