title: Black pepper essential oil to enhance intravenous catheter insertion in patients with poor vein visibility: a controlled study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of topically applied black pepper essential oil on easing intravenous catheter insertion (IVC) in patients with no palpable or visible veins compared to a control group (standard nursing practice).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomized, controlled study.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred twenty hospitalized patients, who were referred to a hospital vascular team because of difficulty in accessing veins for IVC insertion.
  
  
  METHODS
  Topical application of 20% essential oil of black pepper in aloe vera gel or standard nursing care (hot packs with or without vigorous tactile stimulation).
  
  
  METHODS
  Pre- and post-test vein visibility and/or palpability and number of attempts at IVC insertion.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher percentage of patients achieved optimal scoring (vein score=2) or improved scoring (vein score of 1 or 2) to black pepper intervention than standard nursing care. The black pepper group also reduced the number of patients whose veins were still not visible or palpable after the intervention to nearly half that of the control group (p<0.05). The number of IVC attempts following black pepper was also half that of the control group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Topical application of black pepper is a viable and effective way to enhance vein visibility and palpability prior to intravenous insertion in patients with limited vein accessibility; it also improves ease of IVC insertion.
authors.affiliation: Abington Memorial Hospital, Abington, Pennsylvania 19001, USA. skristiniak@amh.org
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kristiniak
authors.forename: Jean
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Harpel
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Breckenridge
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Buckle
mesh_terms: D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000379:methods*; D057785:Catheters; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009736:Nursing Process; D009822:Oils, Volatile / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D029222:Piper nigrum / Q000737:chemistry*; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014680:Veins / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D009822:Oils, Volatile; D010936:Plant Extracts