What is the Difference Between IV Infusion and IV Bolus

The key difference between IV infusion and IV bolus is that IV infusion is a type of intravenous injection that delivers drugs at a slower flow rate, while IV bolus is a type of intravenous injection that delivers drugs at a faster rate for the rapid delivery of drugs into the bloodstream in an emergency situation.

Intravenous injections (IV) are used to inject medications or drugs into a vein and directly into the bloodstream. It is a very fast and efficient way to get medication into the body. IV administration is carried out by healthcare professionals via a steel needle or a plastic catheter. This allows the administration of multiple doses or medications without having to re-inject a needle and deliver each dose several times. There are various methods of IVs, such as IV infusion, IV bolus, and IV push.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is IV Infusion 
3. What is IV Bolus
4. Similarities – IV Infusion and IV Bolus
5. IV Infusion vs IV Bolus in Tabular Form
6. Summary – IV Infusion vs IV Bolus

What is IV Infusion?

Intravenous infusion is the administration of fluid via a needle or a plastic catheter into a vein at a slower rate. The term infusion implies a slow flow rate or a time duration of administration that is not fixed. It is often used as it allows controlled dosing of certain drugs. Chemotherapy is an example where IV infusion takes place; here, the necessary dosage should be dripped slowly into the bloodstream. IV infusions are also used to administer anti-nausea and other medications without requiring more needles. They are used to replace the loss of fluids and electrolytes and maintain them at proper levels in a patient. In addition, they provide nutritional support to patients who are unable to absorb food and nutrients properly through the intestines. Another function of IV infusion includes delivering intermittent medications and fluids and helping in the administration of blood and blood products. IV infusion is used in the treatment of cancer, autoimmune disorders, dehydration, congestive heart failure, unresponsive infections to oral antibiotics, immune deficiencies, and pain.

IV infusion takes place in a clinical setting such as a hospital, infusion center, outpatient facility, or a doctor’s office and, in serious instances, at home. The needles are usually inserted into the chest, arm, neck, or groin. It is carried out by trained healthcare professionals. There are certain risks of IV infusion, such as collapsing of veins, infections, allergies, phlebitis, and air embolism. Allergies or infusion reactions show signs such as coughing, nausea, itching, fever, swelling, rashes, shortness of breath, and muscle pains.

What is IV Bolus?

Intravenous (IV) bolus is the administration of medications in a fluid via a needle or plastic catheter into a vein at a faster rate. The term bolus refers to a dose of drug or medication given at once. IV bolus usually provides a rapid delivery of medications through the vein, and this helps to achieve the peak level within a short time in a patient’s system. It is carried out by healthcare professionals. At the time of administration of the IV bolus, a pump or gravity is used to get the fluids into the system faster. This fluid is closed off and provides a steady drip with constant hydration for several hours.

Not all drugs are suitable for IV bolus. Moreover, patients with heart problems, low urine output, swollen legs, or severe conditions are not capable of receiving an IV bolus. The main risks faced during IV bolus are damage to endothelial glycocalyx and overload of the volume of the fluids. IV bolus is mainly used to administer vitamins or medications in order to raise it to an effective level during an emergency. A common use is the administration of insulin for type 1 diabetic patients.

What are the Similarities Between IV Infusion and IV Bolus?

• IV infusion and IV bolus are intravenous medication methods.
• Both provide complete amounts of drugs or medicines into the bloodstream fast.
• The administration flow of both is controllable.
• Both are effective and allow better entry of medications into the venous system compared to oral medications.
• Moreover, both are administered through a needle or plastic catheter.
• Medications in the form of fluids are administered through both methods.

What is the Difference Between IV Infusion and IV Bolus?

IV infusion takes place at a constant rate of mg per hour, while IV bolus takes place at an inconstant rate of mg per minute. Thus, this is the key difference between IV infusion and IV bolus. The onset of action of IV infusion is slower, while the onset of action of IV bolus is rapid. Moreover, IV infusion is given for a prolonged period while IV bolus is given within a shorter time period.

The below infographic presents the differences between IV infusion and IV bolus in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – IV Infusion vs IV Bolus

IV infusion and IV bolus are two types of intravenous injections used to inject medications or drugs into a vein. IV infusion takes place at a constant rate of mg per hour. It is a method of slow-rate drug delivery into the bloodstream. IV bolus takes place at an inconstant rate of mg per minute. It is a way of rapid delivery of drugs into the bloodstream via a vein. Unlike IV infusions, IV bolus is given for emergency situations. So, this summarizes the difference between IV infusion and IV bolus.

Reference:

Palkovick, Lianna. “IV Bolus vs Push: What’s the Difference and Which Do You Need?” Drip Hydration Mobile IV Therapy | NAD.
2. “Infusion Therapy: What Is It, What Conditions Does It Treat?” Healthline, Healthline Media, 21 Dec. 2020.

Image Courtesy:

1. “IV infusion regulator” By Ashashyou – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “[blood, needles, hospital] Cannulated” By David Jackmanson (CC BY 2.0) via Flickr