Intravenous Access Solutions

A well-planned venous access is quintessential in managing the physical needs of terminally ill patients. Oral administration of medications is often difficult in these patients secondary to progressive dysphagia, nausea, vomiting, and intestinal obstruction. The subcutaneous route usually serves as the initial parenteral route due to its ease of use and wide availability. However, when subcutaneous administration is suboptimal or impossible, the patients require intravenous routes to administer high-dose opioids, palliative chemotherapy, maintenance fluids, blood components, and total parenteral nutrition (Gallieni et al. 2008).