When you come to the Emergency Room with a complaint do you expect an IV line to be inserted?
What’s an IV line? Well, let me describe it to see if you’ve been through the experience.
An IV is a long thin needle with a plastic sheath covering it. It is carefully drilled into your vein to deliver medications and fluid solutions.
It seems that every patient gets one, whether they expect it or need it.
On most occasions, I can be pretty confident that if a patient is in a stretcher waiting for more than 30 minutes, the nurse will diligently place one, prior to my asking. I am in no way criticizing this approach. In fact, they are automatically doing what they / you perceive as being necessary and are helping out by “getting the ball rolling”, so to speak.
But, how often do you really need it? If your blood pressure is low, you’re vomiting, you need certain medications that only come in IV form are all good reasons.
But, if you have a slight “tummy ache” (imagine “Precious” sitting in the stretcher eating chips and drinking RedBull), a mild headache, feel dizzy… Chances are you don’t actually need that IV!
IV lines are a physician hack, for curing most illnesses, as patients are led to believe that the doctor does in fact agree with them, that they are ill, and hence the IV. You must be sick to get an IV, right?? It’s amazing how patients seem to get immediate relief for so many common complaints from just the IV and fluids alone. And who am I to say that that’s wrong, if it does in fact instill a sense of healing and wellbeing?
I guess that the feeling of the cold surgical steel piercing skin, followed by the surge of cold fluid rushing up your arm instills a sense of immediate treatment, resulting in sudden relief. No other medications needed.
Let’s see the whole picture though, as there are downsides. Many medical folks advocate, that, “if you have a mouth, then use it” (if you’re not actively vomiting, of course). Why? Because it’s a quicker way to deliver medications, it’s less painful, and there are none of the complications associated with pacing an IV.
Complications?? Imagine fluid leaking into your tissues, causing tissue damage (this can be really bad), infection / abscess formation at the site of the IV, scarring, etc. Another important and often overlooked factor to be considered is that it takes nursing time and skill. That time may be better spent with someone who really is ill and in need of immediate treatment.
A wise doc once told me, “If you pretend to be sick, I’ll pretend to be your doctor”.
So, next time you demand that IV, think twice. Remember, that it may in fact just be a physician hack to make you feel better, while otherwise doing nothing.
And guess what? You got better.
By Dr. DMS
