Complications of intravenous therapy: reduction by buffering of intravenous fluid preparation.
Local complicationn of intravenous infusions have become a common cause of morbidity in hospitals. Two consecutive groups of patients were studied: the patients in the first group had received standard non-buffered intravenous fluid preparations with pH from 3.6 to 6.0; the second group of patients received fluids which were buffered to a neutral pH. The incidence of local complications in the first group was high (58%), with phlebitis being the most common complication which occurred in 43% of patients. The addition of a buffer to the fluids just before the infusion reduced the incidence of all complications in the second group of patients to 28%, and that of phlebitis to 19%. It will be shown that the complications can be significantly reduced by buffering the infusion fluids.
D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification; D002021:Buffers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007263:Infusions, Parenteral / Q000295:instrumentation; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010689:Phlebitis / Q000517:prevention & control; D010710:Phosphates; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
D002021:Buffers; D010710:Phosphates