What Are the Precautions to Take After Removing an Intravenous Catheter?

Intravenous retention needles are suitable for intermittent, continuous, or daily intravenous infusion therapy. The use of intravenous retention needles for infusion involves the administration of drugs through sterile tubing placed within a vein. The goals of this method are to reduce patient discomfort, protect veins, rationalize drug administration to improve treatment outcomes, maintain patency of the intravenous access for emergency resuscitation, and enhance the quality of nursing care.

1. Observe for local bleeding: After removing the intravenous retention needle, it is necessary to observe for any local bleeding. If bleeding occurs, immediately apply pressure to the puncture site with a cotton swab for 5 minutes until the bleeding stops.

2. Maintain local cleanliness: It is important to keep the area clean after removing the intravenous retention needle. Avoid touching the puncture site with hands and do not contact dirty objects to prevent infection.

3. Avoid water contact at the puncture site: Since there is local trauma after removing the intravenous retention needle, it is advisable to avoid water contact for 24 hours. Preventive measures for abscess formation should be taken to promote local healing. If pain, swelling, fever, or other symptoms occur at the injection site, or if there is purulent discharge from the puncture point or a rise in body temperature, it may indicate an infection at the puncture site. In such cases, it is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.