What is 5% D/W TKO

[scherie88]

I cannot for the life of me figure out what med this is...someone please help. I know TKO is To Keep Open

[scherie88]

Thank you for such a detailed response! For some reason, I am really struggling with my IV Therapy..I had done very well in Pharm so I didnt think I would have any problems..but this class is turning out to be my most challenging. Again..Thanks!

[HeartsOpenWide, RN]

5% dextrose water

[BuffMurse]

in what cases would the IV not stay open or the vein go bad?

[MPKH, BSN, RN]

The IV catheter port can get clogged up when not in use. That is why you're supposed to flush the IV site regularly when not in use.

[anonymousstudent]

in what cases would the IV not stay open or the vein go bad?

Like diffindo said, when it's not in use it gets clogged up. The body's normal response to a perforation is to clot it off, right? IV sites are no different. So we routinely flush them to help prevent clotting. But they will sometimes still clot. You never push a clot into circulation.

As far as the vein "going bad," you should be familiar with infiltration and phlebitis.

Infiltration - the catheter may become dislodged and seep the contents of the infusion into the tissue instead of the vein. Or the rate of infusion may be excessive (this is why we practice IV rates ad nauseum and learn how to quickly identify if an infusion isn't moving in at the correct rate), and the vein can't handle it so it begins to flood into the tissue. You could also puncture the other side of the vein upon insertion of the catheter.

Phlebitis is an inflammatory response of the vein. A vein could become inflamed for a number of reasons - infection, irritation, movement of the catheter, a catheter that's too big.

This is why we always inspect the IV site, and take special care to monitor an infusion because these things can develop quickly.