Objections: Phlebitis is the most common complication developed during peripheral intravenous (IV) therapy. Several factors are responsible for its development (e.g. size and matter composition of cannulae, number of insertions, dwell time, fluid concentration, or ignoring the rules of proper aseptic techniques). Based on current recommendations, an intravenous cannula must be removed after approximately 72 hours (48-96 hours), or if the patient needs new one.

Methods: A prospective cross-sectional, quantitative and qualitative study was conducted at the Departments of Internal Medicine, Neurology and Surgery of Szigetvár Hospital, Hungary. Patients were selected through targeted expert sampling method. Those under 18 years and removed cannula within 48 hours were excluded. 117 patients (n_p=117) and 205 peripheral cannulae (n_k=205) were assessed. χ²-test, t-test and correlation analysis were used (p<0.05).

Results: The average dwell time of peripheral venous cannula were 86 ± 11.85 hours (min= 69, max= 124). Insertion of cannulae were into vena basilica (49.8%; n_k=96), vena cephalica (33,7%; n_k=69) and vena mediana cubiti (19,5%; n_k=40) in most cases. Preferred size was 20 G (n_k=140; 68,3%), however, 24 G (n_k=5; 2,4%), 22 G (n_k=49; 23,9%) and 18 G (n_k=11; 5,4%) sizes were also used. Antibiotics (38%), gastroprotective (23.9%), diuretic (19.5%) and haemostatic (11.7%) medications were given most often intravenously. There is no significant difference between dwell time and developed phlebitis (p>0.05), however, significant connections were observed between pain level, age and phlebitis (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Phlebitis cannot be fully prevented, although some risk factors could be reduced or eliminated with proper cannula usage and following the main principles of aseptic and antiseptic therapies.