Page 14 - Pharmaceutics IV (02-06-01305)

Parenterals: Routes Intravenous (IV)

Limitations: thrombus formation

• The main hazard of IV infusion is thrombus formation.
• A thrombus is a blood clot formed within the blood vessel, usually

because of slowing of the circulation or an alteration of the blood or
vessel wall.
• It can be induced by the catheter or needle touching the wall of the
vein or when the drug is irritating to the biologic tissues.

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Parenterals: Routes Intravenous (IV)

Limitations: thrombus formation

• Once such a clot circulates, it becomes an embolus, carried by the
blood stream until it lodges in a blood vessel, obstructing it and
resulting in a block or occlusion referred to as an embolism. Such an
obstruction may be a critical hazard to the patient, depending on the
site and severity of the obstruction (pulmonary embolism).

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Salma E. EL-Habashy