Effect of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate on the survival of peripheral intravenous infusions: A double-blind prospective clinical study

Abstract

Abstract Phlebitis is the commonest complication of intravenous infusion. It has been suggested that it is initiated by venoconstriction at the infusion site, hence treatment with a vasodilator may reduce its incidence. We carried out a prospective double-blind controlled study of the effect of transdermal glyceryl trinitrate on the survival of peripheral intravenous infusions in 340 patients. Fifty-five per cent (94 out of 170) of the infusions failed in the control group compared with 19 per cent (33 out of 170) in the treatment group (χ2 = 45, P < 0.0005). The commonest cause of infusion failure was superficial phlebitis: 47 per cent in the control group and 17 per cent in the treatment group (χ2 = 46, P<0.0005). The estimated median time of infusion survival was 74 h in the control group compared with 127 h in the treatment group (log rank χ2 = 143, P < 0.0001). We conclude that infusion phlebitis is a common problem in hospitalized patients and its incidence can be effectively reduced by transdermal glyceryl trinitrate.