An IV is a small plastic tube, inserted into a vein, usually in your hand or arm.
An IV is used to:
provide fluids when you are dehydrated or can’t drink
give a blood transfusion
administer medications directly into your bloodstream. Some drugs work better this way.
Intravenous cannulation is a process by which a small plastic tube (a cannula) is inserted into a peripheral vein. The subsequent venous access can be used for the administration of fluids, medication and nutrition. In some cases, blood samples can also be obtained from the cannula.
The process of cannulation can be divided into four steps; explanation and consent, preparation, procedure and aftercare. We shall now look at these stages in more detail.
