Intravenous cannula fixing and dressing--comparison between the use of transparent polyurethane dressing and conventional technique.

A sterile, disposable, polyurethane intravenous catheter dressing (OpSite; Smith & Nephew), was compared with a conventional dressing for both convenience and cost. Despite lack of familiarity, the use of OpSite proved as easy and acceptable as the traditional non-sterile control method. OpSite was also as durable and would appear, on calculation, to be cheaper when intravenous therapy lasts longer than a day. OpSite is therefore recommended as the intravenous dressing of choice. Its use, or that of a similar sterile disposable product, should be considered mandatory for paediatric and other patients in whom sterility is vital, and in situations where intravenous infusion will continue for more than 24 hours.