IV infusion therapy involves administering medication through an intravenous (IV) line. The IV line is a catheter inserted into a vein, usually the right arm or hand. Medical treatment involves the use of an intravenous (IV) catheter to administer medications or fluids directly into the bloodstream. When performing IV infusion therapy, Dr. Carmelle Aliza often gives some medications by vein and others by injection, but all are administered IV.
This procedure is performed in a hospital, emergency room, or doctor’s office. IV infusion therapy helps to treat patients with dehydration, shock, circulatory problems, and other medical conditions requiring fluid replacement.
In some cases, it is used to treat conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. In other situations, it can be used for pain management or as part of a medical procedure.
There are several different types of intravenous therapy, including:
Parenteral nutrition (PN)
Parenteral nutrition (PN) is a type of IV therapy used when a person is unable to eat due to an underlying medical condition. PN involves inserting a feeding tube directly into the stomach via a small incision in the abdomen. The tube is connected to a pump that feeds nutrients directly into the bloodstream via this route. The most common type of PN used today is total parenteral nutrition (TPN).
Hemodialysis (HD)
Hemodialysis (HD) is an outpatient procedure that removes waste products and excess fluid from your blood. It uses a machine to remove waste from your blood. Your doctor may advise you to have this outpatient procedure if you have severe kidney damage. The procedure allows you to increase the amount of time your kidneys can keep working, which can improve your health.
You will undergo tests before and after the procedure, which include blood tests, a physical exam, and an abdominal radiograph (x-ray). You might need an IV antibiotic before the procedure if you are sick with an infection or if it’s been more than three months since your last dialysis session.
During HD, your kidneys filter waste out of your blood and release it into a dialysate solution. The dialysate then flows through a tube into another machine called the perfusion unit, where it cleans the waste out of your body again and returns it to your bloodstream.
Peritoneal dialysis (PD)
PD is a more intensive process than HD, as it involves flushing out waste products from the peritoneal cavity (body cavity). The PD tube is placed in one of the abdominal veins, just below the diaphragm, and connected to a dialysis machine. PD doesn’t remove as much fluid as HD, but it can be effective if you have kidney failure or other conditions that limit kidney function.
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)
Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) occurs when two hollow needles are inserted into the abdomen and filled with fluid that has been absorbed from the blood through an artificial vascular access device (AVAD). The dialysis process removes excess water and minerals from the patient’s blood, which may be useful in certain medical conditions such as end-stage renal disease, where patients have lost all kidney function and need dialysis.
IV infusion therapy involves administering medication through an IV directly inserted into one of your veins. If you are getting a medication that has to be injected at least once a week, then it is best to visit Healthy Living Visiting Physicians for IV therapy.