IV Bolus Vs Push: What's The Difference And Which Do You Need? (2024)

What is Dehydration and Why does it Happen?

IV Bolus Vs Push: What's The Difference And Which Do You Need? (1)A healthy human body is mostly made up of water. We lose some of this water throughout the day in the breath we exhale, through sweat, or by other bodily fluids. When the normal water content in the body is reduced it can upset the balance of minerals in your body, affecting the way it functions. Having enough water in the body promotes proper blood circulation, efficient waste removal as well as regulating body temperature through sweating.

Dehydration is typically caused by not drinking enough fluids or when the body loses more fluid than it has replaced. Extensive exercise sessions, a hot and humid climate and diet are considerable factors that can lead to dehydration. One can also become dehydrated as a result of fluids lost due to illness, such as diarrhea and vomiting or sweating from a fever. Being ill puts a greater demand on your body’s resources, which can greatly accelerate the dehydration process.

Fluid intake is vital for many of our bodily functions, and we can easily become dehydrated if we are not replenishing these fluids properly. In addition to drinking enough water, we also need to replace the electrolytes (primarily Potassium and Sodium) our bodies have lost throughout the day. Simply consuming water without electrolyte replacement after sweating and losing fluids does not restore balance back to the body. True hydration means liquids plus electrolytes, and a Dehydration IV treatment has just that.

IV Bolus vs IV Push – Which is Right for You?

IV Bolus Vs Push: What's The Difference And Which Do You Need? (2)An IV push is when vitamins or medications are given rapidly, typically in less than 30 seconds. IV push is typically only used in emergency situations. An example of an IV push used appropriately would be during an allergic reaction or heart attack. For example, a dose of the medications Atropine or Adenosine could be given by IV push to counteract such an emergency health situation.

An IV bolus is when vitamins or medications are taken over a longer time period, typically one to 30 minutes in non-emergency situations. The IV fluid line is typically wide open, as opposed to a typical slower drip of a long-dosing standard IV. The biggest advantage of this method is that a bolus quickly raises the concentration of vitamins or medications in the blood to an effective level. A common use of medication administered via IV bolus would be insulin for people suffering from diabetes.

Meanwhile, Standard IVslast longer than IV bolusand are likewise used for non-emergency situations. Rehydration is the most common use of standard IV drip therapy.

What’s in a word?

The term ‘bolus’ can cause some confusion when trying to understand the differences between IV delivery methods.

A bolus, by definition, is a single large dose of a medication. Both an IV push and an IV bolus are technically using a bolus. A push, however, is effectively a bolus delivered in seconds versus the minutes of a bolus or hours of a standard IV drip.

Which do You Need?

IV Bolus Vs Push: What's The Difference And Which Do You Need? (3)In summary, there are three prevalent forms of IV therapy treatment delivery: IV push, bolus, and standard IV drip.

  • IV push – is typically only used for emergency situations.
  • An IV bolus – is still fast acting but will take minutes rather than the seconds of an IV push.
  • A standard IV drip dose – is the slowest of all three versions and can take 30 minutes or more, depending on the type of infusion used.

How Long does Standard IV Therapy Last?

A standard IV drip will typically take 30-60 minutes. Fluids and any medications or vitamins are added to the blood stream at a slow and steady pace. An example of a standard IV drip dose could be 1 liter of Normal Saline IV bolus over 1 hour. Certain types of IV treatments, such as NAD+ or Iron infusions, may take 3-4 hours per infusion.

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IV Bolus Vs Push: What's The Difference And Which Do You Need? (2024)

FAQs

IV Bolus Vs Push: What's The Difference And Which Do You Need? ›

Both kinds of treatment give your body the stuff it needs to support your health, whether that “stuff” is insulin, epinephrine, or vitamin B12. However, an IV bolus will empty your IV bag in a few minutes, while an IV push empties the contents of the syringe in seconds.

Are IV bolus and IV push the same? ›

IV push – is typically only used for emergency situations. An IV bolus – is still fast acting but will take minutes rather than the seconds of an IV push. A standard IV drip dose – is the slowest of all three versions and can take 30 minutes or more, depending on the type of infusion used.

When is IV push needed? ›

Intravenous medications provide an alternative to the oral route for drugs that may not be absorbed by the GI tract. They are ideal for patients with GI dysfunction or malabsorption, as well as for patients who are NPO (nothing by mouth) or unconscious.

Why would someone need a bolus? ›

For a person with diabetes, a bolus is a dose of insulin taken to handle a rise in blood glucose (a type of sugar), like the one that happens during eating. A bolus is given as a shot or through an insulin pump.

What are the advantages of IV bolus? ›

Higher concentrations of drug in systemic circulation (higher Cmax and early AUC exposure) are achieved following IV bolus injection compared to other routes of administration, because the entire dose is deposited directly into the bloodstream rapidly.

What type of IV fluid is recommended for a bolus? ›

Resuscitation. If patients need IV fluid resuscitation, use crystalloids that contain sodium in the range 130–154 mmol/l, with a bolus of 500 ml over less than 15 minutes. (For more information, see the Composition of commonly used crystalloids table.)

What is the difference between an IV infusion and a bolus? ›

But an IV bolus is a particular type of therapy. Unlike a standard drip IV, where the fluid line is closed, an IV bolus has an open line. Consequently, the fluids enter the body at a much faster rate—in up to five minutes—than with a drip IV.

What are the disadvantages of IV push? ›

There is a high risk for infusion reactions, ranging from mild to severe because most IV medications peak rapidly (i.e., they have a quick onset of effect). A hypersensitivity reaction can occur immediately or be delayed and requires supportive measures.

What is the purpose of IV push? ›

IV push allows for administration of an antibiotic in a minimal fluid volume. Small fluid volumes can be particularly useful in patients who are fluid-restricted, such as patients with acute volume overload or acute renal failure.

Do you flush after IV push? ›

Once your medication syringe is empty, remove the syringe from the hub of your IV line. WASH HANDS. 'Scrub the hub' of your IV line with a NEW alcohol pad for at least 15 seconds. Flush your IV line with saline (“pulse flush”).

What are the disadvantages of bolus? ›

... On the other hand, the intermittent or bolus methods are more physiologic and do not depend on a feeding pump. However, they increase the risk of aspiration, lead to glucose variability, and may delay gastric emptying time leading in some cases to increased gastric residual volume (GRV) [12] .

When do you need a bolus? ›

In pump therapy, you need a bolus of rapid-acting insulin for most meals and snacks that have carbohydrate. You can choose to get your meal bolus insulin over a long time or all at once. With injections, you don't need rapid-acting insulin for some snacks or meals.

When would you use bolus? ›

People with feeding tubes who can tolerate a normal amount of food at 1 time can be fed by bolus feeding. Feedings are most often given every 4 to 6 hours during waking hours. You'll be told how often to give the feedings and how much water to give between feedings.

What happens if you push IV meds too fast? ›

Be aware of the recommended IV push rate for the drug you are administrating – refer to attached document and IV Medication Guidelines Caution: many side effects such as infiltration or speed shock with symptoms such as a flushed face, headache, tight feeling in the chest, and irregular pulse, can be caused by ...

What drugs are given as IV bolus? ›

Some of the drugs more commonly given by this method include:
  • chemotherapy drugs such as doxorubicin, vincristine, cisplatin, and pacl*taxel.
  • antibiotics such as vancomycin, meropenem, and gentamicin.
  • antifungal drugs such as micafungin and amphotericin.
  • pain relief medications such as hydromorphone and morphine.
Jul 5, 2021

How fast do you run a 500ml bolus? ›

Give a fluid bolus of 500 ml of crystalloid (containing sodium in the range of 130–154 mmol/l) over less than15 minutes.

What is the difference between IV infusion and IV push? ›

An IV push is an infusion of 15 minutes or less and requires that the health care professional administering the injection is continuously present to observe the patient. In order to bill an IV infusion, a delivery of more than 15 minutes is required for safe and effective administration.

What is the meaning of IV push? ›

Intravenous push (IV push) is a process of introducing a medication or fluid substance directly into the bloodstream via the venous system. When the medication is administered directly into the bloodstream, it immediately enters the circulatory system and travels to a site of action.

What is the difference between IV therapy and IV push? ›

An IV push injection rapidly delivers a single dose of medicine directly into the bloodstream and takes very little time. In comparison, the IV infusion takes longer as it relies on gravity, although the dosage rate can be controlled more minutely by monitoring the drops per minute.

What is pushing a bolus? ›

IV push: a term used when giving a medication rapidly (less than 30 seconds). Except in emergent situations very few medications are given this way. (adeniosine & atropine are examples) IV Bolus: a term referring to giving a medication over 1-5 minutes.

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