A study of the use of intravenous cannulas for medical emergencies in Newham--implications for financial savings.
Newham General Hospital, London, UK.
A study of intravenous (i.v.) cannula usage for medical emergencies admitted to hospitals in the Newham Health District was undertaken during two defined periods (24 and 35 days). Almost half the cannulas inserted (47%) were not flushed following an initial bolus injection of heparinized saline. The duration that cannulas remained in a vein ranged from 24 hours to 8 days (median 2 days) and inflammation around the cannula site was related to the length of time since insertion but unrelated to whether the cannula was flushed regularly or to the type of fluid used. Our findings indicate a substantial wastage of i.v. cannulas due to difficulties with insertion and suggest that isotonic saline, without heparin, is effective in maintaining cannula patency for 48 hours. It is concluded that these findings are not unique to the Newham Health District and worthwhile financial savings should be achieved throughout the NHS if clinicians reconsider the indications and use of i.v. cannulas for their patients.
CiteULike 
Complore 
Connotea 
Del.icio.us 
Digg 
Reddit 
Technorati What's this?
- Full Text (PDF)
- Submit a response
- Alert me when this article is cited
- Alert me when eLetters are posted
- Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
- Email this link to a friend
- Similar articles in this journal
- Similar articles in PubMed
- Add article to my folders
- Download to citation manager
- Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Google Scholar
PubMed
Bookmark with
Register for free content
The full back archive is now available for all BMJ Journals. Institutional subscribers may access the entire archive as part of their subscription. Personal subscribers will also have access to all content when logged in. Non-subscribers who register have free access to all articles published before 2006 right back to volume 1 issue 1. Register here to access the free archive of all BMJ Journals.
Don't forget to sign up for content alerts so you keep up to date with all the articles as they are published.
