Irritants and vesicants: ensuring safe IV therapy (BD, 6 November 2024)

Summary

This article by BD looks at the the risks related to irritants and vesicants when medications are administered to patients via vascular access (into their blood vessels through a cannula). It highlights the immediate risks of vein irritation, pain, discomfort and potential tissue damage during an infusion, as well as looking at the impact of damage to vascular endothelial cells caused by irritants and vesicants.

It offers guidance on selecting the right vascular access device (VAD) and includes a Vascular Access Device Assessment Decision Tree, which is free to download.