Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Complications from IV therapy: Results from field-started and emergency department-started IVs compared

1988; Elsevier BV; Volume: 17; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1016/s0196-0644(88)80770-4

1097-6760

David W. Lawrence, AJ Lauro,

Emergency and Acute Care Studies

Because the complications resulting from IV therapy started outside the hospital seem inordinately higher than those resulting from IV therapy started in the emergency department, we undertook a comparative two-month study of the complications resulting from both sources. We found the number and severity of complications from IV therapy started in the field significantly greater than complications from that started in the ED. The phlebitis rate in the prehospital group was 4.65 times that in the ED groupp (P < .001). The percentage of patients with unexplained fever in the pre-hospital group was 5.58 times that in the ED group (P < .01). Means for reducing the complications and areas for further research are suggested. Because the complications resulting from IV therapy started outside the hospital seem inordinately higher than those resulting from IV therapy started in the emergency department, we undertook a comparative two-month study of the complications resulting from both sources. We found the number and severity of complications from IV therapy started in the field significantly greater than complications from that started in the ED. The phlebitis rate in the prehospital group was 4.65 times that in the ED groupp (P < .001). The percentage of patients with unexplained fever in the pre-hospital group was 5.58 times that in the ED group (P < .01). Means for reducing the complications and areas for further research are suggested.