The treatment of an extravasation, the inadvertent delivery of a vesicant into the tissue around a vascular access device (VAD), is a source of patient harm that is under-recognized, under-reported, and thus likely ineffectively treated. Unfortunately, recommendations for extravasation treatment (primarily reliant on case reports) can be difficult to leverage into clear clinical guidelines, increasing the risk of inadequate or delayed post-extravasation monitoring and treatment. This presentation will review vesicant properties and their mechanisms of tissue injury, peripheral vs central VAD extravasation risks with related prevention measures, and recommended extravasation treatment strategies and resources using a case study approach.

Objectives:

• Describe the properties of the major vesicant categories that may precipitate tissue injury
• Relate the relative extravasation risks of peripheral vs central VADS to extravasation prevention strategies
• Describe current recommendations for treatment of selected vesicant extravasations, using a case study approach

CRNI® RUs: This session has been approved for 2 CRNI® recertification units and meets the non INS Meeting criteria.

Contact Hours: This session has been approved for 1 contact hour

Expiration date for receipt of contact hours: September 18, 2027

To receive contact hours for this educational activity, you are required to attend the entire educational activity and complete the evaluation.

The Infusion Nurses Society is approved as a provider of continuing nursing education by the California Board of Registered Nursing, provider #CEP14209. The certificate must be retained by the attendee for a period of 4 years.