Phlebitis: treatment, care and prevention

Higginson, Ray

Ray Higginson is chartered biologist and senior lecturer in critical care, and Andrew Parry is senior lecturer in critical care; both at the Faculty of Health, Sport and Science, University of Glamorgan, Wales.

•This article has been double-blind peer reviewed

Nursing Times 107(36):p 18-21, September 13, 2011.

How to prevent, identify and treat phlebitis in patients with a venous cannula

In this article…

> Peripheral venous cannulation is a common procedure used in hospital to deliver fluid and medicine

> Phlebitis (inflammation of the vein) can be caused by chemical, mechanical or infectious irritation

> Good practice with cannula insertion and infection control should help to prevent the condition

Abstract

Higginson R, Parry A (2011) Phlebitis: treatment, care and prevention. Nursing Times; 107: 36, 18-21. Peripheral venous catheter-associated phlebitis is caused by inflammation to the vein at a cannula access site. It can have a mechanical, chemical or infectious cause.

Good practice when inserting a cannula, including appropriate choice of device and site, can help to prevent phlebitis. Good infection control techniques are also vital in preventing the condition.

There are two phlebitis scoring systems, which should be used in routine practice to identify and treat early signs of the inflammation.