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What complication can occur if an IV needle is reinserted into a catheter once it is removed? A) Vascular spasm B) Thromboembolism C) Air embolism D) Catheter Shear

User Comixninja
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Final answer:

Reinserting an IV needle into a catheter after its removal can cause catheter shear, a scenario where the catheter accidentally gets severed or damaged, which can lead to serious health risks.

Step-by-step explanation:

The question asks what complications can arise from reinserting an IV needle into a catheter once it has been removed. The potential issue that can occur from this is D) Catheter Shear.

In medical terminology, catheter shear refers to the accidental severing or damage of the catheter, often due to incorrect handling such as reinsertion of a needle. This can result in components of the catheter entering the bloodstream posing a serious health risk.

On a related note, as per the World Health Organization, venous catheters, while being life-saving interventions, can be common sites of bloodstream infections. Up to 80,000 catheter-related bloodstream infections are estimated to occur each year in the US, causing about 20,000 deaths.

Learn more about Catheter Shear

User Fanchyna
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