A Comparitive study to evaluate the efficacy of heparinised saline and normal saline flush on patency of peripheral intravenous cannula among patients with medical conditions in selected hospital at Salem

Abstract

BACKGROUND: In modern medical practice, more than 60% of patients receive intravenous therapy during their hospitalization. Medication, fluids, nutrition, and blood products can all be given via the intravenous route. Peripheral veins are the most common intravenous access method in the hospitals. The problems associated with the peripheral Intravenous catheters are kinking, occlusion of the catheter itself, developing a clot or an infection at the venous insertion site (phlebitis). METHOD: A quantitative evaluative research approach, quasi experimental post-test only control group design was used. The sample size was 45, 15 in each experimental group I, experimental group II and control group were selected using non probability purposive sampling technique. Initially the researcher got permission from concerned authority. The written consent was obtained from the samples. The tools used were, Performa of demographic variable, structured rating scale to assess the patency of peripheral intravenous cannula. Heparinised saline flush was administered to experimental group I, 10 units of heparin in 2ml saline was given for 4 days twice daily after the administration of medication from the first day and within 12 hours of intravenous cannulation and 2ml of normal saline was given to experimental group II, for 4 days twice daily after the administration of medication from the first day and within 12 hours of intravenous cannulation. RESULT: The findings showed that there is a significant difference in the mean score of patency of peripheral intravenous cannula between experimental group I, experimental group II and control group, there is no significant association between the post test level of patency of peripheral intravenous cannula among samples in experimental group I with their selected demographic variable (age, size of cannula and site of cannula insertion), there is a significant association between the post test level of patency of peripheral intravenous cannula among samples in experimental group II with their age. CONCLUSION: Both heparinised saline and normal saline was found to be effective in maintaining the patency of peripheral intravenous cannula