Category: Nursing practice

Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) is a widely used method for managing acute and chronic pain, with modalities including intravenous lines, central lines, and epidural catheters [1.5.3]. The critical question for clinicians often is, **can PCA be given through central line** safely and effectively?

Extravasation, the leakage of a vesicant drug into surrounding tissue, can cause severe and irreversible local injuries. For this reason, when administering a vesicant drug by short-term infusion through a peripheral vein, strict safety protocols including frequent blood return verification are essential to mitigate risk.

Extravasation, the accidental leakage of intravenous drugs, occurs in approximately 0.1% to 6% of patients receiving IV chemotherapy [1.7.2]. Understanding **what is the recommended treatment protocol for extravasation** is critical for preventing severe tissue damage and improving patient outcomes [1.3.7].

In the United States, medication errors are estimated to harm at least 1.5 million people every year [1.4.3]. Understanding **what are the 7 steps of medication administration** is a critical framework for healthcare professionals to enhance patient safety and reduce the incidence of these preventable events.