[Complications resulting from intravenous treatment in surgical patients].

Nursing plays an important role in prevention and reduction of complications related to venous access. This study had the purpose to find complications derived from intravenous therapy. Major data were: 77.3% of the venous accesses were performed by auxiliary nursing; 68% of the procedures were performed without gloves; 60% of the accesses were not satisfactorily performed by nurses; 47% of the cannulae were "in situ" between 24 and 72 hours; among the complications, 20% were related to infiltration, 5.4% to infiltration and hematoma and 5.3% to obstruction. Data suggest the need to improve the education of the nursing team about intravenous therapy.