Use and complications of peripheral vascular catheters: a prospective study.
Peripheral vascular catheters (PVCs) are important medical devices but their insertion and usage are associated with discomfort and potential complications such as thrombophlebitis. This article looks into the various aspects of the practice of using PVCs, especially their complications and ways of avoiding them.


OBJECTIVE
to determine the complications (and their associated factors) related to PVCs.


METHODS
prospective.


METHODS
District General Hospital.


METHODS
a study was undertaken of 86 of the 106 patients consecutively admitted as an emergency over a period of two weeks who had a PVC inserted.


METHODS
the admitting doctors inserted the PVCs at their discretion. PVC sites were inspected daily.


RESULTS
of the 86 PVCs inserted, 42 were never used, while 43 were of large gauge and 29 were left in situ for over 72 hours. Eight patients developed thrombophlebitis, of which four had a large gauge PVC, two were never used and two were left in situ for over 72 hours (P=0.016).


CONCLUSIONS
incidence of thrombophlebitis may be reduced by re-siting or removing PVCs within 72 hours. PVC gauge and whether it was used, were not associated with this complication.
Abbas
Syed Zafar
SZ
Department of Medicine, Hexham General Hospital, Hexham, UK.
de Vries
Theodorus Klass
TK
Shaw
Steve
S
Abbas
Syed Qamar
SQ
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002408:Catheters, Indwelling / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018579:Patient Selection; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D013924:Thrombophlebitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D013997:Time Factors