RISK FACTORS FOR PHLEBITIS ASSOCIATED WITH PERIPHERAL INTRAVENOUS CATHETERS: A SCOPING REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE
Ilda TAKA, Elona HASALLA, Albana SULA (KRECI), Blerina BAHITI, Rajmonda HIDA, Blerina BANI
Abstract
Introduction: Peripheral venous catheter placement is a quick and inexpensive procedure for short-term vascular access. This technique is widely used to administer fluids, drugs, blood products, and contrast media. However, their use is often associated with complications, the most common of which is phlebitis. To reduce the incidence of its occurrence, the implementation of effective preventive strategies is essential.
Aims: This review aims to evaluate and synthesize risk factors for the occurrence of phlebitis from peripheral venous catheters, focusing on factors related to the patient, catheters, infusions, and healthcare practices.
Methods: A scoping review was conducted to examine the relationship between risk factors and phlebitis associated with peripheral intravenous catheters. The search was performed in CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Embase, PubMed, Nursing Journal and Google Scholar focusing on studies published from 2003 to 2023. Only English-language, non-randomized studies on adults were included. Literature reviews, studies before 2003, pediatric studies, and those with sample sizes smaller than 100 were excluded. Keywords such as phlebitis, thrombophlebitis, and risk factors were used, and duplicates were removed.
Results: The electronic research strategy identified 1,408 papers, of which 30 were relevant to the aims of this review. The results of the study show a correlation between patient-related risk factors such as age, gender, vein quality, and the presence of chronic diseases. Catheter-related factors include the duration of catheterization, insertion site, catheter size, and emergency insertion. Infusions given as administration of antibiotics, high osmolarity drugs and potassium chloride (KCl) were also identified as risk factors. Factors related to the practice of health care nurses were assessed as low work experience, hand hygiene and missed nursing care.
Conclusions: The literature review assessed the impact of several risk factors for the occurrence of phlebitis. For its prevention and early detection, it is necessary to improve nurses' knowledge about the proper techniques for inserting a peripheral venous catheter, its maintenance and removal when necessary, as well as to identify factors that increase the risk of its development.
Pages: 175 - 189