Prevention of superficial phlebitis during peripheral parenteral nutrition.

Fifty-four patients receiving peripheral parenteral nutrition consisting of 3.5 percent amino acids in a 5 percent dextrose solution were randomly assigned in a double-blind fashion to receive this solution with or without an antiphlebitic mixture (1000 IU heparin, 5 mg hydrocortisone, and 1.8 mEq sodium hydroxide as a buffer). The addition of antiphlebitic mixture resulted in a marked and highly significant reduction in the incidence of phlebitis and a prolongation of the number of phlebitis-free hours during infusion of peripheral parenteral nutrition (p less than 0.005).