What is a “blown” vein when getting an IV and how is it not harmful?
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A blown vein is a vein that has either ruptured or is not patent enough to be used to deliver medicine
Veins carry blood back to the heart and are fairly low pressure pipes so the risk of bleeding out is low as your body will plug the leak before a lot gets out. There are also collateral veins so if one is blocked theres another that can carry blood back to the heart.
Its not harmless as you are still bleeding out inside and now you have to find another access, but not the end of the world.
Dont blow a vein when doing a central line, though.
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