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Barton A, Jackson T, Oliver G Intravenous infusion drug administration: flushing guidance. Br J Nurs.. 2019; 28:(8 Suppl)S16-S17 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2019.28.8.S16

Chan KY, Pinkney S, Fan M, Colvin C, Easty T, Trbovich P Mitigating risks associated with secondary intravenous (IV) infusions: an empirical evaluation of a technology-based, a practice-based, and a training-based intervention. Canadian Medical and Biological Engineering Society.. 2013; 36:(1) https://proceedings.cmbes.ca/index.php/proceedings/article/view/400

Cooper DM, Rassam T, Mellor A Non-flushing of IV administration sets: an under-recognised under-dosing risk. Br J Nurs.. 2018; 27:(14 Suppl)S4-S12 https://doi.org/10.12968/bjon.2018.27.14.S4

Cousins D Patients are being underdosed: we need new guidance on small-volume drug infusions. Clinical Pharmacist.. 2018; 10:(12) http://doi.org/10.1211/CP.2018.20205779

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Residual fluid after IV infusion drug administration: risk of suboptimal dosing

23 January 2020

Letters to the Editor

02 January 2020

Volume 29 · Issue 2

ISSN (print): 0966-0461

ISSN (online): 2052-2819

We are writing in response to the article by Andrew Barton and board members of the UK's National Infusion and Vascular Access Society (NIVAS). ‘Intravenous infusion drug administration: flushing guidance’ (Barton et al, 2019). We contend that there is substantial evidence to support concern regarding this issue (Rout et al, 2019), and the NIVAS guidelines cite several recent publications from the UK that have raised the alarm regarding nursing management of undelivered therapeutic fluid (Cooper et al, 2018; Cousins, 2018; Furniss et al, 2018).

It is evident from research that has been conducted into intravenous intermittent infusions that a gap in clinical practice exists regarding the optimal management of residual fluid (Hoefel et al, 2008; Chan et al, 2013; Lam et al, 2013; Cooper et al, 2018; Furniss et al, 2018; Morrow, 2018; Thoele et al, 2018), and it is indeed the place of NIVAS to offer expert consensus (Barton et al, 2019). However, these guidelines underplay the significance of underdosing from non-delivery of residual volume.

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