SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KTIV) -
It's tough to see your kids not feeling well. And when that illness requires a trip to the hospital and an IV, it's even worse. But now a Sioux City hospital has an easier way to handle some of those IV situations.
It's easy for babies and young children, like Hanson, to get dehydrated, especially when they're sick. Until now, getting them the fluid they need meant sticking an IV in a vein in their arm or foot. Something that's hard to do on little patients. "It can be very difficult, especially if they're really dehydrated," said Melissa Brown.
But now, St. Luke's Regional Medical Center has a way to cut down on all the poking and prodding. "By using the Sub-Q Hydration, we can prevent multiple IV sticks in children," said Brown. Subcutaneous Hydration is a new technique. Nurses don't search for a vein in the arm or leg, but rather head straight for skin on the back. "The needle actually just goes in to the subcutaneous tissue of the skin," said Brown. The fluid is absorbed into the body and hydrates the patient, just like an IV would. Brown says it seems to be less painful for kids, and they don't have to worry about them moving around. "It just seems like the children rest a little easier, because it's kind of in their back and they're not really thinking about it as much. It's not like they have an IV in their arm or their foot where they can see it or look at it," said Brown. Keeping little ones, like Hanson, comfortable when they're not feeling the best.
St. Luke's has been using the new technique on children 6 months to 10 years old. The only drawback with Sub-Q, you can't give antibiotics. However, doctors can use Sub-Q to hydrate a patient, and open up their veins to make putting in an IV easier.
