The Effect of Intermittent Normal Saline Flush on Patency of Peripheral Venous Catheter and Prevention of Phlebitis and infiltration: a Single-Blind Randomised Controlled Trial

Abstract

Abstract: Introduction: Commonly, Peripheral Venous Catheters (PVC) are used to administer intravenous medication rapidly and meticulously in hospitals. Although PVCs have many advantages, they provide an entrance for microorganisms. PVCs associated complications include thrombophlebitis, sepsis, hematoma and infiltration. Sepsis is the most dangerous health care-associated infections. Thrombophlebitis is the most common complication of a Peripheral Venous catheter (PVC).More than 80% of the people receiving intravenous fluids develop some degree of phlebitis, which can be prevented by saline or heparin flush. Many studies have shown that saline solution is an effective and inexpensive solution with the least complications; but the amount and the frequency of saline solution use is controversial. Materials and Methods: This study was a randomized single-blind controlled clinical trial. A total of 210 participants were selected from the patients hospitalized in Shohada Hospital and Imam Reza Hospital in Tabriz [IRAN]. Participants were randomly assigned computer numbers in a sequential manner, two groups of intervention (group one: 70, an intervention every 8 hour and the second group: 70, an intervention every 12 hours) and a control group (70) with allocation ratio of 1: 1: 1. A questioner was used as the data collection method. First, a pre-test was carried out among each of the three groups to assess the catheter insertion site to record any complication according to an observation checklist. Then, 24, 48, and 72 hours after the pre-test, the catheter site wasre-assessed by a trained nurse according to the observation checklist. Results: Based on the findings, the incidence of phlebitis after 72 hours in the first intervention group was 8.6%, in the second intervention group was 15.7% and in the control group was 37.1%. Using Chi-square test showed that there was a significant difference in the occurrence of phlebitis among the study groups (p <0.001) Also, the patency of canola was assessed after 72 hours; in the first intervention group 92.9%, in the secondintervention group 88.6% and in the control group 65.7% was patent; demonstrating a significant difference between the two groups statistically (p <0.001)