Relationship Between the Flushing Times of IV Catheter and Phlebitis

Objective To study the relationship between the flushing times of IV catheter and phlebitis. Methods Twenty-one healthy New Zealand rabbits with the same race and weight were randomly divided into two groups. The veins at the outside edges of the two ears of rabbits were taken as tested blood tubes for the infusion with IV catheter. 30 ml 0.9% sodium chloride injection was infused once daily at the speed of 10 drop/min. The tubes in first group (n=22) were sealed with heparinized saline with intervals of 23 h and a quarter between the flushing times after intravenous infusion. In second group (n=20), the tubes were sealed once again after the first time in 12 h and the intervals between the second sealing and infusion on the next day was 11 h and a quarter. The first group was sealed 3 times and the second 6 times. Both retained for 72 h and then the indwelling intravenous catheter was withdrawn. Two cm long and 1 cm width samples with vein and ear structure were taken as pathological section for the observation of pathologic change of the vein.Results No inflammatory cell infiltrates were found on the vascular walls in both groups. The inflammatory cells were distributed the tissues around the vessels with the difference being significant between the two groups (all P0.01). There was no significant difference in the intravascular thrombosis between the two groups (all P0.05).Conclusion In the same indwelling time, the increased flushing times of IV catheter could aggravate the tissue inflammation around the veins.