title: Venous sequelae following i.v. administration of diclofenac.
abstract: Diclofenac sodium (Voltarol) was administered i.v. to 149 consecutive patients who were thought likely to benefit from its anti-inflammatory action. Patients were allocated randomly to one of two groups: group A received the undiluted i.m. preparation (25 mg ml-1) and group B the i.m. preparation diluted in normal saline (5 mg ml-1). Diclofenac 1 mg kg-1 administered over a 10-min period via a 23-gauge needle into a vein at either the antecubital fossa or the dorsum of the hand. No local or systemic problems were encountered in either group, at the time of injection. A high incidence of painless local venous thrombosis occurred in both hand and arm veins, 72 h after administration in group A (85% and 58%, respectively). The incidence of thrombosis was reduced markedly after administration of the diluted drug: 38% hand veins; 8% antecubital fossa veins.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anaesthetics, Ulster Hospital, Belfast.
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Campbell
authors.forename: C H
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Watters
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001132:Arm / Q000098:blood supply; D004008:Diclofenac / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D007275:Injections, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D013927:Thrombosis / Q000139:chemically induced*; D014680:Veins
chemical_list: D004008:Diclofenac