We investigated the impact of peripherally inserted central catheter (P iee) placement in spinal cord injury patients at high risk for infusion phlebitis . The rate and etiology of phlebitis was investigated in two phases. During Phase I, peripheral IV cannulae and conventional central venous catheters (eVe) were used. During Phase II , patie nts ide ntified to be at risk for phlebitis received Plees. The number of peripheraiiVs, eves and Plees was tabulated for both phases of the study. Technical , infectious and thrombotic complications we re studied prospectively for Plees and retrospective ly for eves. We found the rate of phlebitis was 16.5 percent and 2.4 percent for Phases I a nd II , respectively (p=0.0002). Three infections occurred in 38 Plees and one infection was documented in 13 conventional eves. The numbe r of peripheraiiVs and conventional eves was reduced significantly from Phase I to Phase 11. No procedural complicati ons, catheter sepsis or clinically apparent venous thrombosis occurred . In conclu sion, Plees reduced the rate of phle bitis thresholds with a low complication rate and reduced the use of periphe ral IVs and conventional eves. (J Spinal Cord Med 1997;20:341-344)
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