Most of the cases occurred after 2 days of the punction 42%, and 72% of them. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheter. This type of phlebitis may require treatment, but isnt usually serious. The amount of missed care 16 was a predictor of pvcrelated phlebitis. Phlebitis has been linked with inappropriate catheter insertion sites and inappropriate catheter usage. Prevention of phlebitis development during hospitalization. Conventional treatment usually involves elevating the affected limb and applying warm compresses to ease discomfort. Learn about phlebitis symptoms, tests, diagnosis and the best treatment techniques, including medication or surgery, from aurora health care, serving eastern. Both types of phlebitis are defined by a clot in a blood vessel, but a clot in one of the deep veins can travel to the heart or lungs, making it very dangerous, says david l. Sep 27, 2017 treatment for superficial phlebitis may include removal of an iv catheter, warm compresses, or antibiotics if an infection is suspected. How to prevent, identify and treat phlebitis in patients with a venous.
Superficial thrombophlebitis means there is a blood clot in the vein just under the skin thrombosis or thromboembolism, that causes swelling and pain. Nursing care as a predictor of phlebitis related to. The whiteley clinic have developed a protocol to investigate and treat patients with phlebitis or suspected phlebitis based on these guidelines. Treatment, care and prevention peripheral venous catheterassociated phlebitis is caused by.
Oct 04, 2019 phlebitis and deep vein thrombophlebitis dvt are an inflammation of the leg or arm veins caused by sitting too long, obesity, smoking, pregnancy, cancers, and varicose veins. Antiinflammatory drugs like aspirin or ibuprofen can help lessen the pain and swelling for phlebitis near the surface of your skin. Phlebitis in peripheral ivs phlebitis has long been recognized as a risk for infection. The reason for choosing the abovementioned department was grounded in literature. Inflammation may be caused by damage to or infection of your vein. Whatever the cause of phlebitis, remove the catheter as soon as possible. Higginson and parry 2011 conducted a research on phlebitis treatment, care and prevention.
Remove device at first sign of redness and tenderness. Risk factors for the development of phlebitis include type of infusate, cannula material, size, and host factors. Treatment and recovery for phlebitis and thrombophlebitis depends on the cause. Phlebitisrelated peripheral venous catheterization and the. Phlebitis is inflammation of the wall of your vein. Phlebitis definition, treatment at home, management. Treatment of acute phlebitis as soon as phlebitis superficial venous thrombophlebitis is suspected or diagnosed, an urgent venous duplex ultrasound scan should be arranged. If you have superficial phlebitis, it can be treated at home. Phlebitis is a common complication of intravenous therapy. Jun 22, 2014 both types of phlebitis are defined by a clot in a blood vessel, but a clot in one of the deep veins can travel to the heart or lungs, making it very dangerous, says david l. Prevention of venous thrombosis and thrombophlebitis in longhaul flights with pycnogenol.
In addition, a poor standard of infection control has a part to play and infection control and hygiene standards are essential in the treatment and prevention of the condition uslusoy and mete, 2008. Thrombophlebitis thromboefluhbytis is an inflammatory process that causes a blood clot to form and block one or more veins, usually in your legs. Affecting only the surface veins, superficial phlebitis is generally minor, easily treatable, and most likely causes of phlebitis are due to injury to the veins. Outbreak of bacterial phlebitis related to peripheral.
Phlebitis aftercare instructions what you need to know. Phlebitis is an inflammation of the veins that usually develops in the arms or legs. In case one is walking, this also is an effective treatment method because it increases the flow of the blood and prevents clots from forming. When it affects a vein close to your skins surface, its called superficial phlebitis. Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein, usually in the leg, that may be caused by a blood clot within the vein thrombophlebitis or infection. Uw medicine vte treatment taskforce april 2015 no to all re ommendations for management of superfiial vein throm osis patient presents with signssymptoms of superficial vein thrombosis obtain duplex ultrasound to confirm diagnosis treat according to guidelines for treatment of vte evaluate for vte risk factors history of vte known thrombophilia. Superficial thrombophlebitis causes and treatment patient.
An antiinflammatory drug such as ibuprofen or aspirin can lessen pain. Symptoms include pain, redness, and swelling near the vein. Thrombophlebitis diagnosis and treatment mayo clinic. To prevent phlebitis and its dangerous complications, monitor any patient with an i. Superficial thrombophlebitis is different to, and much less serious than, deep vein thrombosis dvt. Phlebitis symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Superficial phlebitis usually develops after youve had a mild trauma to. However, in a small number of cases, complications can occur with superficial thrombophlebitis, including extension of the blood clot further up the vein. Quality treatment according to procedures increased from 86% to 93%. Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis are an inflammation of a vein, and blood clots that cause the inflammation. Removing the vein wont affect circulation in your leg because veins deeper in the leg take care of the increased volumes of blood. For superficial phlebitis, self care measures can help relieve symptoms.
Symptoms may appear when you are receiving an iv medication, or 48 to 96 hours after you receive the medicine. Incidence of phlebitis associated with the use of peripheral iv. There seems to be a relationship between the incidence of phlebitis and the components of intravenous fluids. Findings revealed that the standard replacement group had a higher prevalence rate of complications compared to the clinically indicated replacement group.
Amiodarone is an antiarrhythmic drug that remains the firstline treatment for ventricular and supraventricular arrhythmias, which frequently occur in critical care settings. Childrens hospital using the visual infusion phlebitis vip score 3, a specially designed chart reported in literature. Jun 21, 2018 superficial thrombophlebitis is different to, and much less serious than, deep vein thrombosis dvt. Phlebitis treatment self care at home an antiinflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help lessen the pain and inflammation of superficial phlebitis. Treatment for superficial phlebitis may include removal of an iv catheter, warm compresses, or antibiotics if an infection is suspected. Many studies have been done as to causes and possible modes of prevention. From january to june, 20, 11 cases of bacterial phlebitis related to peripheral intravenous catheters were reported. For adults, lower extremity insertion sites are associated with a higher risk for infection than are upper extremity sites.
Phlebitis symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and prevention aurora. Phlebitis is an inflammation of the vein, which may bring with it pain, erythema. Continuous application of moist heat over 72 hours, along with administration of oral nonsteroidal antiinflammatory agents, is the best treatment. To treat dvt, you may need to take anticoagulants, which. The phlebitis in individuals receiving intravenous iv treatment was higher than the rate defined by both the centers for disease control and prevention and iv nurses society.
How to prevent, identify and treat phlebitis in patients. It can have a mechanical, chemical or infectious cause. Superficial phlebitis can result from a blood clot or from something causing. Guidelines for the prevention of intravascular catheterrelated infections 8 2002. Aloe vera for prevention and treatment of infusion phlebitis source. Document all suspected cases of phlebitis using the infusion nurses societys phlebitis scale see grading phlebitis or according to your facilitys. The effect of saline lock on phlebitis rates of patients in cardiac care units. Phlebitis author ray higginson is chartered biologist and senior lecturer in critical care, and andrew parry is senior lecturer in critical care.
Moh nursing clinical practice guidelines 12002 prevention of. Linking to a nonfederal website does not constitute an endorsement by cdc or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Mechanical phlebitis occurs where the movement of a foreign object cannula within a vein causes friction and subse quent venous. Figures and tables can be seen in the attached printfriendly pdf file of. The affected vein might be near the surface of your skin superficial thrombophlebitis or deep within a muscle deep vein thrombosis, or dvt. How to prevent, identify and treat phlebitis in patients with. Learn more about the causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment from the number one heart center, cleveland clinic. It involves removing a long vein through small incisions. Catheterassociated urinary tract infections cauti intravascular catheterrelated infection bsi. When it affects a deeper vein, its called thrombophlebitis or deep vein thrombosis dvt.
The vein becomes inflamed because theres blood clotting inside it or the vein walls are damaged. Phlebitisrelated peripheral venous catheterization and. Treatment of superficial phlebitis focuses on pain relief, reducing the swelling and preventing clot formation, as by applying heat a warm compress to the affected area several times a day, elevating your leg, taking a nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drug such as advil, motrin or naproxen aleve and using prescriptionstrength compression. Objectives to determine the incidence and factors contributing to the development of amiodaroneinduced phlebitis in the coronary care unit in an academic. If phlebitis progresses, youll find redness and warmth above the venipuncture site, limb edema, a palpable cord along the venous pathway, and lowgrade fever. Multidrugresistant organisms mdro deviceassociated guidelines.
Phlebitis treatment selfcare at home an antiinflammatory drug, such as aspirin or ibuprofen, can help lessen the pain and inflammation of superficial phlebitis. The treatment of varicosities and accompanying complications. Phlebitis, infiltration, and localized site infection. He found that peripheral venous catheter associated phlebitis is caused by inflammation to the vein at. Perceptions of risk factors for phlebitis among malaysian. Incidence of phlebitis among adult patients with peripheral intravenous catheter in an east coast hospital malaysia. Nurses knowledge and early recognition of risk factors for the development of phlebitis can reduce complications. Superficial thrombophlebitis is the term for an inflamed vein near the surface of the skin usually a varicose vein caused by a blood clot. Peripheral venous catheterassociated phlebitis is caused by inflammation to the vein at a cannula access site. Intravenous amiodarone is an important treatment for arrhythmias, but peripheral infusion is associated with direct irritation of vessel walls and phlebitis rates of 8% to 55%. There was a significant relationship between having a chronic disease, duration of catheterization and type of fluid used and the development rate of phlebitis. Links with this icon indicate that you are leaving the cdc website the centers for disease control and prevention cdc cannot attest to the accuracy of a nonfederal website. Phlebitis and thrombosis involving upper extremity veins most often occurs in the context of upper extremity venous cannulation and is discussed separately. Moreover, patients who stayed for 714 days had an increased likelihood of developing phlebitis.
Health professionals must acknowledge the importance of infection prevention and appropriate patient care and this should be emphasized via education of the staff. To reduce the risk of phlebitis in adults, the centers for disease control and preventions guidelines recommend changing peripheral i. Prevention of phlebitis article pdf available in jama the journal of the american medical association 2286. Grade 0 no symptoms grade 1 erythema at insertion site with or without pain. The symptoms are redness, swelling, tenderness and pain along the course of a vein, which may be near the surface of the skin superficial phlebitis or deep within a muscle deep vein thrombosis or dvt. When assessment of the pvc insertion site is missed, andor other nursing interventions are missed, recognition of phlebitis might be delayed. Belcaro g, cesarone mr, rohdewald p, ricci a, ippolito e, dugall m, et al. Title a program for the prevetion of phlebitis in paediatric. Phlebitis, infiltration, and localized site infection among. Causes of phlebitis and thrombophlebitis include sitting for prolonged periods and varicose veins.
Signs and symptoms of phlebitis are pain, tenderness, redness, and a bulging vein are common symptoms. If the clot extends to where the superficial and deep, larger veins join, a dvt can develop. Signs and symptoms of superficial phlebitis are a gradual onset of tenderness area along the along the veins on the skin. Prevention of phlebitis development during hospitalization on otolaryngology and plastic surgery wards. Major areas of emphasis include 1 educating and training healthcare personnel who insert and maintain catheters. Phlebitis is the most important complication associated with peripheral venous cannulas, and is largely a physiochemical or mechanical, rather than an infectious, phenomenon. Your doctor can surgically remove varicose veins that cause pain or recurrent thrombophlebitis in this procedure. When in doubt, take it out dilution of infusate decrease rate of infusion piggyback with mainline iv warm compress to promote vasodilation and hemodilution device securement stabilization treatment removal of catheter. These guidelines are intended to provide evidencebased recommendations for preventing intravascular catheterrelated infections. Compression stockings and overthecounter antiinflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen may also help alleviate pain.