[Reducing the Incidence of Phlebitis Related to Intravenous Injection in Pediatric Patients].

BACKGROUND & PROBLEMS: Peripheral venous catheter (PVC) is commonly used to provide nutrition and medicine to pediatric inpatients. Phlebitis is a common side effect of PVC insertion. Over 90% of pediatric patients in the paedi-atric medical ward at the Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CGMH) receive PVC insertion, with an incident rate of phlebitis of 5.07%. Common cause factors of phlebitis are: insufficient sterilization time, inappropriate methods used to fix the PVC, the use of fixtures that loosen easily, high re-fix rates, and inadequate wound care after catheter removal.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this project was to reduce the incidence rate of PVC-insertion-related phlebitis in children from 5.07% to 2.5%.

RESOLUTION: A one-week clinical observation identified the re-inserting / re-fixing of existing PVCs as the principal cause of phlebitis in the CGMH paediatric ward. Therefore, the researchers modified the catheter care bundle based on a review of the literature and the suggestions of clinical pediatric experts. Modifications included applying 2% chlorhexidine to sterilize the insertion site; using a new, non-woven fabric splint to fix the PVC site; providing cartoon-themed waterproof dressings for the first bath after the removal of the PVC; and setting standard operating procedures (SOPs) for PVC insertion and catheter removal.

RESULTS: After applying these modifications, the incident rate of phlebitis in children with PVC insertions decreased from 5.07% to 2.08%.

CONCLUSIONS: The application of 2% chlorhexidine reduces the waiting time for sterilization; the purpose-designed splint strengthens the fixation of the PVC; and the development of the SOPs for PVC insertion and post-removal catheter care reduces the risk of phlebitis. The combination of these strategies effectively reduces the incidence of phlebitis and improves the nursing care quality.