Efficacy of Topical Heparin in Prevention of Superficial Thrombophlebitis before Peripheral Venous Cannulation.

Thrombophlebitis can be very commonly associated with peripheral venous cannulation. Many a times, thrombophlebitis may go undiagnosed. With serious complications and uncertainty of the treatment, it is always better to prevent its development. Prophylactic topical heparin application can significantly reduce the incidence of thrombophlebitis and also the complications related like deep venous thrombosis and pulmonary embolism which increase the hospital stay. Thus, this study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of topical heparin in prevention of development of superficial thrombophlebitis.METHODS150 patients in the age group of 20 - 60 years, were randomly allocated to group H (Heparin), group C (Control), with 75 patients in each group. Group C received placebo (normal saline) and group H received topical heparin QPS before the insertion of the cannula on the dorsum of the upper limb and were observed at an interval of 8 hours until 72 hours using Visual Infusion Phlebitis Scale.RESULTSAt the end of 72 hours, score of 0, I, II, and III was observed in 5.33%, 44.00%, 29.33% and 21.33% patients, respectively, in Group C; whereas score of 0, I, and II was observed in 60%, 25.33%, and 14.67% patients, respectively in Group H (P = 0.0001). In Group C, score up to III was observed, whereas maximum score was II in Group H and that too at 72 h in only 14.67% of patients which proves the efficacy of topical QPS of heparin [Table 2].CONCLUSIONSProphylactic topical application of QPS heparin was effective in preventing development of superficial thrombophlebitis.