Pediatr. praxi. 2022;23(5):355-358 | DOI: 10.36290/ped.2022.064

Incidence of infusion phlebitis in children

Mgr. Gabriela Světnicka, prof. PhDr. Darja Jarošová, Ph.D.

Ústav ošetřovatelství a porodní asistence, Lékařská fakulta Ostravské univerzity

Objective: The objective of the study was to determine the incidence of infusion phlebitis in children hospitalized with diabetes mellitus with an inserted peripheral venous catheter.

Methodology: An observational study examined the insertion site of a peripheral venous catheter (PVC) using the Visual Infusion Phlebitis scale - VIP scale (Appendix 1) in 209 children aged 6-11 years. The research took place in 7 hospitals in the Moravian-Silesian Region. The evaluation of the PVC insertion site took place at 12-hour intervals during the entire indwelling time. The evaluation was performed by nurses in the wards.

Results: The incidence of first-degree infusion phlebitis was observed most frequently, specifically in 48 children (22.97%), in all inserted PVCs. The second degree of infusion phlebitis was found in 16 (7.66%) inserted PVCs. In children hospitalized with diabetes mellitus (n = 40; 19.14%), an increased incidence of first-degree infusion phlebitis was observed in 20 cases (50%) and second-degree in 9 cases (22.5%). In comparison with children who were hospitalized for other diseases, a statistical significance of p = 0.000 was found here. No child had third to fifth degree infusion phlebitis in the study sample. The highest incidence of first-degree infusion phlebitis (n = 23; 33,3%) was recorded on day 3 after the PVC insertion, with a statistical significance of p = 0.0260. The research also showed that age, sex and size of PVC did not affect the incidence of this complication at the PVC insertion site in hospitalized children.

Conclusion: This study measured the incidence of infusion phlebitis using a VIP scale. The incidence of first-degree infusion phlebitis was monitored in less than 23% and second-degree infusion phlebitis in less than 8% of all inserted PVCs in hospitalized children. Factors such as diabetes mellitus and the number of days of PVC were found to be statistically significant predictors of this complication. Prevention of infusion phlebitis can not only reduce the costs and workload of nurses, but above all reduce stress and pain in hospitalized children.

Keywords: phlebitis, peripheral venous catheter, assessment tools, children, nurses.

Accepted: October 4, 2022; Published: October 11, 2022  Show citation