What is the primary risk of allowing an IV line to become occluded?

The primary risk of allowing an IV line to become occluded is thrombosis. Occlusion refers to the blockage of the IV line, which can lead to the formation of a clot at the site of blockage. When blood flow is hindered, it can cause blood to pool and ultimately form a thrombus, which poses significant risks to the patient's health. Thrombosis can lead to complications such as pain, swelling, and in more severe cases, pulmonary embolism or deep vein thrombosis.

The formation of a thrombus can also lead to compromised delivery of medications and fluids through the IV, impacting therapy effectiveness and patient safety. Therefore, monitoring for signs of occlusion and addressing them promptly is critical in IV therapy practice to prevent such thrombotic complications.

Other options, while related to IV therapy risks, do not capture the direct consequence of an occluded line as accurately as thrombosis does. For instance, infection typically occurs due to poor insertion technique or contamination, fluid overload relates to the volume of fluid administered rather than blockage, and infiltration refers to fluid entering surrounding tissues rather than a blockage within the IV line itself.