Taking an IV out and then taking bp?

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How long should you wait before taking the blood pressure on an arm you took an IV out of? I had a healthy 37 year old not on any blood thinners or anything and I took her IV out almost 3 hrs before taking the blood pressure on that arm. When I took it blood started coming out of the site, is that normal, or should I have waited longer or used the other arm?

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

you could use the other arm :)

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she had cellulitis on the other arm and it was really painful so she requested the one that the IV had come out of

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Try taking the pressure below the level of the IV, if possible. If the IV is in the AC, take the pressure around the wrist or mid-forearm. If the IV was in the hand, forearm, or another location in the lower arm, just try to take the BP in the normal spot.

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Specializes in Med Surg - Renal.
How long should you wait before taking the blood pressure on an arm you took an IV out of? I had a healthy 37 year old not on any blood thinners or anything and I took her IV out almost 3 hrs before taking the blood pressure on that arm. When I took it blood started coming out of the site, is that normal, or should I have waited longer or used the other arm?

You were fine. Especially given the additional information you provided.

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Thanks for the tip, it was in the AC so I could have tried that. Guess I am still wondering if that is normal though. How long do you usually have to wait for the IV site to "stay" closed (:???

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Specializes in Critical Care, Emergency Medicine, Flight.

1-2 minutes is good unless they have crazy thin blood. i would think by the time you are done holding pressure and disposing of the old iv and stuff you should be ok.

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Specializes in Critical Care, ED, Cath lab, CTPAC,Trauma.
Thanks for the tip, it was in the AC so I could have tried that. Guess I am still wondering if that is normal though. How long do you usually have to wait for the IV site to "stay" closed (:???

It depends on the size of the IV and how long it has been in. It's normal. Just hold pressure for a little longer and apply another band aid.

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Specializes in ER/ICU/STICU.

Sure if it was a big IV. If I had to guess I would say that the pressure from the BP cuff just caused blood to back up into the vein and the pressure just blew out the clot covering the insertion site. It happens. Just hold pressure and rebandage.

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