Dropper at home

IV drips are one of the most effective methods of administering medications. They deliver active substances directly into the bloodstream, which accelerates the therapeutic effect and increases its intensity.

IV drips are used in the treatment of many acute and chronic diseases. As a rule, they are given in courses lasting from 3–5 days up to 2–3 weeks. If the patient’s condition is stable and there are no reasons for hospitalization, they may be administered at home.

In such cases, calling a nurse at home is the optimal solution. The «Oxford Medical» clinic provides this service for a fee to all patients in Kyiv and the suburbs.

IV drips are most often prescribed during inpatient treatment, but there are cases when hospitalization is not required. This usually occurs in the treatment of chronic diseases that require maintenance therapy once or twice a year.

A doctor may prescribe IV drips at home for patients who need:

• planned therapy for a chronic disease;

• detoxification after poisoning or exposure to toxic substances;

• supportive therapy after alcohol intoxication and recovery from binge drinking;

• normalization of metabolism, etc.

In each case, the doctor individually decides whether IV drips can be administered at home. If the patient’s condition is unstable or there is a disease requiring 24-hour medical supervision, the doctor may recommend hospitalization or visiting a day hospital.

A nurse arrives at the patient’s home at a convenient time, which can be in the morning, afternoon, or evening.

The procedure may last from 20–30 minutes to 2–3 hours, depending on the doctor’s recommendations. It is usually performed in a lying position, less often sitting, but with the arm supported on an armrest or other surface.

To administer the IV drip, the needle is usually inserted into a vein at the bend of the elbow. When a course of procedures is planned, a catheter is installed and fixed with adhesive tape. This avoids daily vein punctures and minimizes discomfort for the patient.

Before setting up the IV drip, the nurse carefully studies the doctor’s prescriptions and prepares the therapeutic solution accordingly. Then she attaches the medication bottle to the system so that it is positioned at the correct height for smooth delivery of the solution.

Throughout the procedure, the nurse stays next to the patient, monitoring the drug administration and adjusting the infusion rate if necessary.

After the drip is complete, she removes the needle from the patient’s vein and disassembles the system.

The nurse leaves the patient’s home only after ensuring that the patient’s condition is stable and no medical assistance is required.

IV drips should only be administered by an experienced professional who knows how to correctly insert the needle into the vein without damaging it, calculate the required drug dosage, and assist the patient in case of deterioration, allergic reaction, or other side effects.

Attempting to administer an IV drip independently carries high risks of:

• damaging the vein walls and causing perforation;

• incorrect needle placement and injection of the drug into soft tissues;

• air entering the vein and causing air embolism;

• incorrect infusion rate selection;

• medication dosage errors;

• development of side effects without a specialist nearby to provide assistance.