The effect of skin preparation and care on the incidence of superficial thrombophlebitis.

Fifty patients having a variety of intra-abdominal operations necessitating postoperative infusion were randomly allocated to receive antiseptic skin preparation and daily care of the cannula site or no skin preparation either before or after cannula insertion. The study shows that without skin preparation superficial thrombophlebitis is inevitable after about 3 days. However, simple skin preparation and daily care of peripheral infusion sites significantly reduces the incidence of superficial thrombophlebitis.

RCT Entities:   Population Interventions Outcomes