About your treatment  

Your doctor has ordered sodium chloride flush to be used to keep your intravenous (IV) catheter from becoming blocked and to remove any medicine from the IV catheter site. It is used each time your IV catheter is used.

You will probably use a sodium chloride flush several times a day. Your health care provider will determine the number of sodium chloride flushes you will need a day.

Storing your medication  

• Your health care provider probably will give you several days supply of sodium chloride. You will be told how to prepare each dose.

Store your medication only as directed. Make sure you understand what you need to store your medication properly.

Keep your supplies in a clean, dry place when you are not using them, and keep all medications and supplies out of the reach of children. Your health care provider will tell you how to throw away used needles, syringes, tubing, and containers to avoid accidental injury.

Signs of infection  

You need to know the symptoms of a catheter-related infection (an infection where the needle enters your vein or skin). If you experience any of these effects near your intravenous catheter, tell your health care provider as soon as possible:

• tenderness
• warmth
• irritation
• drainage
• redness
• swelling
• pain

Other names