The utilization of long nylon catheters for prolonged intravenous infusions.

A study of 300 patients receiving intravenous therapy showed that 90 had associated phlebitis. Because of this high rate of complications, the use of long plastic catheters, with the tip located in a large central vessel, was investigated. One hundred and one catheters were inserted into the basilic vein through a cut-down. The patients were divided into four groups: infusions lasting one to seven days, eight to 14 days, 15 to 28 days and 29 days or longer. The most common complication was obstruction of the catheter with clotted blood. In four patients the catheters had to be removed because of phlebitis; two were pulled out by the patients themselves. Infection was not observed. Two factors probably contributed to the successful infusions: the composition of the plastic catheters (nylon) and the location of the tip in a large central vessel.