[Phlebitis due to venous catheters. Causes and occurrence]

Seventy-nine patients admitted to Frederiksberg Hospital had peripheral intravenous catheters inserted to aid treatment. We followed the patients in order to determine the frequency of phlebitis, and to isolate mechanical and chemical parameters that increase the risk of phlebitis. The frequency of phlebitis was 27.8%. We found that 35.8% of all complications evolve when the catheter has been inserted for more than 72 hours, and that 45.5% of patients treated with antibiotics develop phlebitis. Furthermore, it seems that acetyl salicylic acid reduces the number of cases with phlebitis. Catheters inserted around the wrist have a higher frequency of phlebitis. Changing the catheters every 72 hours significantly reduces the frequency of phlebitis by 40%. The risk of developing a septic condition due to catheter-induced phlebitis seems small because we suggest that phlebitis is an inflammatory reaction to the plastic-catheter, and not infectious.