The use of intravenous cannulae and the occurrence of thrombophlebitis.
The occurrence of thrombophlebitis in a coronary care unit was studied in relation to the use of short plastic intravenous cannulae. The incidence of thrombophlebitis was 51% in cases where cannulae were used for continuous infusion of glucose 5% and 13% for cannulae which were locked after the injection of heparin. Only one case of infectious thrombophlebitis was seen. The other cases of thrombophlebitis had a chemical or mechanical aetiology. Replacement of glucose 5% by a NaCl 0.9% solution for continuous infusion reduced the incidence of thrombophlebitis to 33%. Heparin-locked cannulae, to provide rapid access to the patient's circulation, proved to be a safe alternative to continuous infusion.
van den Broek
P J
PJ
Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Leiden, The Netherlands.
de Herder-Swinkels
J M
JM
Moffie
B G
BG
van den Berg
W H
WH
Hermans
J
J
D002404:Catheterization / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005947:Glucose / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000009:adverse effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*
D005947:Glucose