Abstract

One hundred junior hospital doctors were surveyed to investigate their use of intravenous cannulae. Anaesthetists inserted more cannulae per day than non-anaesthetists and were more likely to use local anaesthetic and wear gloves, although most doctors never or rarely did so. Anaesthetists were also more knowledgeable than non-anaesthetists about the sizes of cannulae they used and the sizes available, although there was considerable ignorance overall in this regard. Many doctors regularly place themselves at risk and expose their patients to unnecessary pain during intravenous cannula insertion, and have little knowledge about the cannulae they use.