Why would it be difficult to start an iv on a chf and copd patient?

Not related: Some people have good veins, some have very small and fragile veins, some have used up their veins. There is nothing particular to COPD and CHF to make difficult IV access.

?: Do you mean start the actual IV line? Maybe the patient has bad veins, has been in the hospital many times and veins have been used etc? Or do you mean IV fluids? In CHF you want to limit those because patients are generally already fluid overloaded. Hope this answers your question, let me know and good luck!

Two reasons: Due to the nature of the illness, these patients are typically older with atherosclerotic hardened veins that may roll on insertion. Also, they tend to have a few previous hospital admissions that left many of their veins already violated and scarred.

Not necessarily: In any one with poor veins it is difficult to access. People with low BP and collapsed veins, it is even more difficult.