Prolonged intravenous line access in a terminally ill patient, consequences and suggestions

Prolonged and neglected use of an intravenous (IV) line could be limb- and life-threatening. In many terminally sick cancer patients of rural India, pain management is a major concern. It is a very common practice by local practitioners to give IV fluids and pain medications in such patients. Where IV access is difficult, a secure venous cannula is kept in situ for long periods to administer pain medicines and fluids. This article tries to highlight the dangers a neglected IV line poses to limb and life and tries to stress on the importance of a subcutaneous route for pain medication administration in terminally ill palliative patients.