What is what does it mean to blow a vein?

Blowing a vein, also known as a ruptured vein or a vein collapsing, occurs when a needle punctures all the way through a vein during procedures like blood draws or IV insertions.

Here's what that means:

• The Puncture: The needle goes completely through both walls of the vein instead of properly entering the vein's lumen.
• Blood Leakage: When this happens, blood leaks out of the vein and into the surrounding tissue. This leakage causes a hematoma (bruise) to form under the skin.
• Pain and Swelling: The area around the puncture site will likely become painful, swollen, and discolored (bruised).
• IV Complications: If it occurs during an IV insertion, the IV fluid will also leak into the tissue, potentially causing further discomfort and swelling. The IV will not function correctly.

Here's a breakdown of relevant points as links:

• Hematoma: A collection of blood outside the blood vessels. Hematoma
• IV Insertion: The process of placing a catheter into a vein for intravenous therapy. IV%20Insertion