XXIII Glossary

Extravasation: The infiltration of damaging intravenous medications, such as chemotherapy, into the extravascular tissue around the site of infusion, causing tissue injury and possible necrosis.

Fluid volume overload (hypervolemia): A condition when there is too much fluid in the blood. Patients may present with shortness of breath, edema to the extremities, and weight gain.

Infiltration: Infiltration occurs when the tip of the IV catheter slips out of the vein, the catheter passes through the wall of the vein, or the blood vessel wall allows part of the fluid to infuse into the surrounding tissue, resulting in the leakage of IV fluids into the surrounding tissue.

Necrosis: Tissue death.

Phlebitis: Inflammation of a vein.