Risk factors of peripheral venous catheterization thrombophlebitis

Background: Peripheral venous catheterisationis indispensable in modern practise of medicine.The indications of venous access should be weighedagainst the risk of complications, the commonest beingthrombophlebitis. Thrombophlebitis causes patientdiscomfort and the need for new catheter insertion andrisk of developing further widespread infections.Methodology: This observational study was conductedon adult patients admitted to the surgical and medicalward of a tertiary hospital in Negeri Sembilan Malaysiain 2011. Four researchers visited patients daily andexamined for signs of thrombophlebitis; warmth,erythema, swelling, tenderness or a palpable venouscord. Risks factors that were studied in this researchwere patient/s age and gender, duration of catheterization,use of catheter for infusion, size of catheter, site ofcatheter insertion and types of infusate. Thrombophlebitiswas graded using a scale adapted from Bhandari et al.(1979).Results: In total, 428 patients were recruited withan incidence rate of thrombophlebitis of 35.2%.Among those who developed thrombophlebitis, 65%had mild thrombophlebitis, 19% moderate and 8%severe thrombophlebitis. Results showed that femalepatients had a significant increased risk of developingthrombophlebitis. Also risk increased significantly withincreased duration of catheterization and usage of thecatheter for infusion. The age of a patient, types ofinfusate use, size of catheter and site of catheter insertiondid not significantly influence the development ofthrombophlebitis.Conclusion: The study showed that risk of developingthrombophlebitis is significantly increased amongfemale patients, and also with increased duration ofcatheterization and use of the peripheral venous catheterfor infusion. We recommended elective replacementof catheter every 72 hours and daily examination ofcatheters for signs of thrombophlebitis by a healthcarepersonnel.