Why are drips passed into veins but not arteries?

A blockage in the circulatory system caused by one or more bubbles of gas or air is known as an air embolism. During surgery or the administration of intravenous drips, tiny amounts of air frequently enter the blood circulation.

Because air bubbles can exit the blood flow through the lungs, veins are preferred over arteries for intravenous administration because the flow will pass through the lungs before continuing through the body. If air emboli enter the veins, they are primarily stopped at the lungs.

When using rigid glass bottles for drips, there is a greater chance of air embolism because the vent tube allows air to enter the connecting tubes if the bottle is allowed to empty completely. This risk is lower with flexible, collapsible bottles.

It can be fatal to inject more than 100 ml of air into the venous system at a rate faster than 100 ml/s.

Drips are passed into veins rather than arteries because veins are less muscular and have thinner walls, making them easier to puncture with a needle. Additionally, veins generally have lower pressure compared to arteries, reducing the risk of damage or leakage when inserting a drip. Veins also carry blood back to the heart, allowing medications or fluids administered through a drip to reach the circulatory system efficiently.

Drips are passed into veins rather than arteries because veins have thinner walls and lower pressure compared to arteries. This makes it safer and less likely to cause damage or complications when administering fluids or medications intravenously. Additionally, veins have valves that prevent backflow of blood, facilitating the smooth flow of the drip solution into the bloodstream. Passing drips into arteries can lead to complications such as tissue damage, embolism, or blockage of smaller blood vessels.