A third of patients have unnecessary cannulae inserted when they are in hospital, needlessly exposing them to serious complications such as infection and blood clots, research launched at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester has shown.
Complications associated with intravenous (IV) cannula use include problems with veins (phlebitis), leakage of drugs into tissues around the site of the tube (extravasations), serious infection and blood clots.
Some 91% of patients had an IV cannula inserted during their hospital stay. They are often used for patients who are vomiting, fasting or who are unconscious, to ensure that they receive the appropriate drugs and fluids. In many UK hospitals, it has become common practice to insert an IV cannula when the patient is admitted, irrespective of need.
Head researcher, Dr Yash Kumarasamy, said: “We would like to see the introduction of a formal procedure under which hospital pharmacists review patients and their medications and make recommendations to the treatment team about whether or not a cannula is needed.”
