The key difference between infiltration and extravasation depends on the type of medication or fluid that has been leaked into the tissues surrounding the vein. In infiltration, a non-vesicant medication leaks into the surrounding tissues while in extravasation, a vesicant medication leaks into the surrounding tissue.
Intravenous therapy is a treatment that administers a solution directly into a vein. It is a common treatment happening in hospitals. However, these fluids can leak into surrounding tissues due to vein ruptures or dislodging of the IV catheter from the vein. Infiltration and extravasation are two types of complications that can happen after intravenous therapy. Infiltration is the inadvertent administration of a non-vesicant medication into the surrounding tissues while extravasation is the inadvertent administration of vesicant medication into the surrounding tissues. Vesicant medications cause ischemia and necrosis, while non-vesicant medications do not.
CONTENTS
1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Infiltration
3. What is Extravasation
4. Similarities Between Infiltration and Extravasation
5. Side by Side Comparison – Infiltration and Extravasation in Tabular Form
6. Summary
What is Infiltration?
Infiltration is the most common complication of intravenous therapy. It is defined as the leaking of non-vesicant medication into the surrounding tissues rather than the vascular system. However, infiltration is not a serious complication since non-vesicant medications do not cause ischemia or necrosis. However, it can cause redness, swelling and discomfort around the site.
What is Extravasation?
Extravasation is a type of intravenous therapy complication similar to infiltration. However, the type of medication that leaks to the surrounding tissues differs in comparison to infiltration. Extravasation refers to the inadvertent infusion of a vesicant medication or drug into the surrounding tissues, rather than the intended vein.
Figure 01: Intravenous Therapy
Since vesicant medication can cause ischemia and necrosis, extravasation is a serious complication that can lead to damage of skin and tissues. It can cause a chain of reaction of inflammation as well, which persist for a few weeks or months.
What are the Similarities Between Infiltration and Extravasation?
- Infiltration and extravasation are two complications that come after intravenous therapy.
- Both occur due to the leakage of the medication into the surrounding tissues rather than the intended vein.
- They can occur due to rupture of the vein, improper site selection, incorrect device selection, etc.
- Both complications usually cause the slowing or stopping of the infusion.
- Appropriate nursing interventions during the IV catheter insertion and early recognition and intervention upon the first signs and symptoms can effectively manage or prevent these complications.
What is the Difference Between Infiltration and Extravasation?
The key difference between the infiltration and extravasation is the type of medication that leaks into the surrounding tissues. In infiltration, non-vesicant medication leaks into the surrounding tissues, while in extravasation, vesicant medication leaks into the surrounding tissues.Furthermore, since vesicant medication or drugs can cause ischemia and necrosis, extravasation is a serious complication, while infiltration is not a serious complication. So, this is also a major difference between infiltration and extravasation. Moreover, infiltration does not damage skin or tissues, while extravasation can damage skin and tissues.
Below infographic summarizes the difference between the infiltration and extravasation.
Summary – Infiltration vs Extravasation
Infiltration and extravasation are two complications that can happen after intravenous therapy. In infiltration, a non-vesicant medication leaks into the surrounding tissues while in extravasation, a vesicant medication leaks into the surrounding tissue. So, this is the key difference between infiltration and extravasation. Both can cause different consequences. However, extravasation is more serious than infiltration since it can damage skin or tissues.
Reference:
1. “Infusion Therapy (IV) Complications.” Med League Legal Nurse Consultant, 24 Mar. 2017, Available here.
2. “Intravenous Therapy.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 21 Feb. 2020, Available here.
Image Courtesy:
1. “ICU IV 1” By Calleamanecer – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
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