Introduction to IV therapy in Singapore

Our JagaPro, Arlene, demonstrating how to conduct an IV infusion.

What is IV Therapy?

Intravenous (IV) therapy refers to the administration of medication, fluids and/or nutrients into a vein, usually located in the forearm. It is commonplace among patients who are warded in hospitals for treatment or surgery.

By introducing treatment directly into the veins, treatment can be delivered rapidly throughout the body. 

Why is IV Therapy Necessary?

In Singapore, here are the common reasons as to why IV therapy is used:

  • Replenishing of fluids and electrolytes
  • Administration of medications
  • Antibiotics for patients who are currently fighting infections or are at higher risk of infections, due to weakened immunity
  • Chemotherapy for patients who are battling certain types of cancers
  • Pain relief medications (such as in palliative care)
  • Blood transfusions
  • Delivery of nutrition and supplementation such as for patients who are unable to consume food and drinks by mouth

Types of IV Access and Care

There are two main types of IV accesses, namely peripheral and central access. Both accesses utilises different forms of catheters. Catheters are long, flexible tubes that can stay in place for extended periods of time, therefore it can reduce the number of IV injections required and allow for continuous infusion. 

Peripheral access, or peripheral venous catheter (PVC), is a flexible tube that is commonly inserted into the veins at the back of the hand or at the lower half of the arm, for administration of IV treatment. It is only meant for short term or temporary use. Peripheral veins refer to veins that are not situated at the chest or abdominal area.

Central access, also known as central line or central venous catheter (CVC), involves a tube that is inserted into a large vein in or near the chest that delivers treatment to the heart almost immediately, thus, the medication gets circulated very quickly to the rest of the body. It is meant for long term treatment and remains in the chest for months.

Blausen 0181 Catheter CentralVenousAccessDevice NonTunneled.png
Image Credit: Blausen.com staff (2014)

For tunneled catheters, it involves the insertion of a catheter directly into a vein in the chest with the other end remaining on the surface of the skin for administration of treatment. This form of catheter will only be seen in ICUs and hospitals, and it is not suitable for home-based care.

Can IV Therapy Be Provided Safely at Home?

Having to constantly visit the hospital can be a stressful and disruptive experience. Home IV infusions can allow for earlier discharge, fewer trips to the hospital and lower risks of hospital-acquired infections, while keeping patients comfortable at home.


Read Next: What Types of IV Therapy are Available at Home?


Jaga-Me Medical Home Care helps patients to transit successfully from hospital to home, by providing hospital-grade care in the comfort of home. After booking an appointment with us, our team of home care experts will ensure that everything is well set up before safely administering IV therapy in your own home.

What do you need?

1. A doctor’s prescription for your first transition to home-based care, indicating the:
(a) Name of medication, dosage, frequency of administration and duration of administration
(b) Type of dilution agent and the amount required
(c) Storage and administration requirements
(d) Approval for home IV therapy

2. Equipment
– Drip stands, infusion pumps
– To discover the range of equipment that you can rent from Jaga-Me as well as our set-up services, visit our website at https://www.jaga-me.com/care-services/iv/

3. Trained and licensed medical professionals
– Not everyone is fit to administer IV therapy, and complications may occur if done improperly. Our JagaPros are a team of accredited, local professionals who have at least 3 years of experience in acute wards and are ready to help you transition into home care. On top of that:

  • our nurses undergo hands-on competency tests for IV administration, and 
  • standard operating processes are in place and staff adherence is documented, similar to the practices of local hospitals.

To find out more, visit our website at https://jaga.sg or contact our team at 67173737.


 

 

 

 

References

 Josephson DL. (2004). Intravenous Infusion Therapy for Nurses: Principles & Practice. Cengage Learning.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. U.S. Department of Health & Human Services. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/hai/bsi/catheter_faqs.html

Doyle GR and McCutcheon JA. (2015).Clinical Procedures for Safer Patient Care. British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT). Retrieved from https://opentextbc.ca/clinicalskills/chapter/intravenous-ther- apy-peripheral-and-central-venous-catheters/

Josephson DL. (2004). Intravenous Infusion Therapy for Nurses: Principles & Practice. Cengage Learning.

NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. National Cancer Institute. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/peripheral-venous-catheter

NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms. National Cancer Institute. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/port-a-cath

Polinski JM et al. (2017). Home infusion: Safe, clinically effective, patient preferred, and cost saving. Healthc (Amst). 2017;5(1-2):68‐80.

Pong AL, Bradley JS. (2019). Outpatient intravenous antimicrobial therapy for serious infections. Feigin and Cher- ry’s Textbook of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. 8th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2019:chap 238.

Tappenden P et al. (2012). The clinical effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of home-based, nurse-led health promotion for older people: a systematic review. Health technology assessment (Winchester, England), 16(20), 1–72.

Therapeutic Protein Drug Products: Practical Approaches to Formulation in the Laboratory, Manufacturing, and the Clinic. Woodhead Publishing Series in Biomedicine; 2012, Pages 97-113

Waitt, C., Waitt, P., & Pirmohamed, M. (2004). Intravenous therapy. Postgraduate medical journal, 80(939), 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1136/pmj.2003.010421

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