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COMPLICATIONS OF INTRAVENOUS THERAPY
Author(s) -
Stephen M.,
Loewenthal J.,
Wong J.,
Benn R.
Publication year - 1976
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.1976.tb130386.x
Subject(s) - intravenous therapy , medicine , intensive care medicine
A survey of 130 patients receiving intravenous therapy was undertaken. There were no instances of septicaemia over this period, despite a positive bacterial culture rate for cannulae of 48%. The incidence of phlebitis was 31%, and was associated with usual physicochemical factors. These included a cannulation time of greater than two days, an intravenous potassium supplement and antibiotics. Normal saline solutions given alone were associated with a lower incidence of phlebitis and continuous intravenous heparin administration may prolong the period of cannulation before phlebitis occurs. The institution of intravenous therapy teams should help to minimize the complications.