What should I do if air enters my blood vessels during infusion?

Infusion is one of the most widely used methods in modern medical technology, because most patients will go through the infusion process. Infusion is a method of injecting drugs mixed with saline into the vein to achieve the purpose of treatment. However, infusion can also bring some side effects. For example, some people will experience air entering the body through the infusion tube during infusion, which is very dangerous. Let's take a look at what to do if air enters the blood vessels during infusion?

What to do if air enters during infusion:

From a medical point of view, there should be no danger for less than 10 ml of air to enter the blood of a normal adult at one time, as the blood can be cleared by itself. The consequences of air entering the blood circulation depend on the speed and amount of air entering. A small amount of gas entering the blood can be dissolved in the blood and gas embolism will not occur. . But if it is more than 10 ml, it will pose a threat to life. It is easy to form the so-called "air embolism" which will block the arteries and cause acute cerebral infarction, acute myocardial infarction and endanger life, and all this happens very quickly. If more than 100 ml of gas quickly enters the vein and reaches the right heart with the blood, the beating of the heart will mix the air and blood to form a large number of blood bubbles, making the blood foamy and filling the heart cavity, hindering the return of venous blood and its transport to the pulmonary artery, causing serious circulatory disorders. Patients experience breathing difficulties, cyanosis, and even sudden death. Sometimes it may also cause embolism in some organs in the systemic circulation. It is recommended to go to the cardiovascular department of the hospital for a timely physical examination.

How to deal with air entering during intravenous infusion:

(1) All air must be expelled before infusion. During the infusion, timely inspection and close observation should be carried out, even when the liquid is changed, to prevent air from entering the vein and forming embolism.

(ii) When air is found to have entered the body, clamp the intravenous line immediately to prevent further entry of air.

(3) Place the patient in a left-side decubitus position with the head low and the feet high, allowing air to enter the right ventricle and avoid the entrance of the pulmonary artery. Due to the beating of the heart, the air is mixed into foam and enters the pulmonary artery in small amounts at a time. At the same time, notify the doctor and cooperate with the doctor to make emergency treatment.

(IV) Immediately give the patient pure oxygen. If conditions permit, hyperbaric oxygen therapy can be performed.

(V) If there is cerebral convulsion, diazepam can be used. Hormones can also be used to reduce cerebral edema, and heparin and small molecule dextran can be used to improve circulation.

(VI) After the patient's condition stabilizes, the cause of air entry, air volume, and treatment process shall be recorded in detail and truthfully.

(VII) Continue to observe and record until it is proven that the patient is out of danger.