Detecting an infiltrated intravenous catheter using indigo carmine: a novel method.
An extravasated IV catheter may have serious clinical consequences. These include the inability to circulate emergency medications, cause pain on injection, infection at the site, and tissue damage. Clinical signs such as swelling, redness, and pain with injection are valuable, but may not be helpful in the presence of obesity, edema, or in a tracheally intubated and sedated patient. Here we describe a case illustrating a novel approach in which we used an IV dye injection (indigo carmine) to detect a correctly placed and then an extravasated IV. The ability to see visible flow of IV dye intravascularly helped confirm the correct placement. The technique we describe is quick, safe, and inexpensive.
Chen
Mingda
M
Department of Anesthesiology, Duke University, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
Habib
Ashraf S
AS
Panni
Moeen K
MK
Schultz
John R
JR
D000328:Adult; D002405:Catheterization, Central Venous / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D004396:Coloring Agents; D005119:Extravasation of Diagnostic and Therapeutic Materials / Q000175:diagnosis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007203:Indigo Carmine; D009767:Obesity, Morbid
D004396:Coloring Agents; D007203:Indigo Carmine