Incidence and extent of venous sequelae with intravenous diazepam utilizing a standardized conscious sedation technique.

Twenty-four periodontal patients volunteered for a study designed to investigate the incidence of venous sequelae with Injectable Valium administered by a standardized conscious sedation technique. Sedative doses were injected into veins on the dorsum of the hand utilizing a continuous infusion drip of 5% dextrose in water. Postoperative evaluation extended over 12 weeks. Ultrasonic tests for thrombosis were performed with a Doppler Flowmeter. Independent variables considered included age, vein size, volume of drug, volume of intravenous solution, pain upon injection and initial venous flow velocity. Sixteen subjects (66.67%) experienced some form of venous sequelae. Thirteen sequelae advanced to thrombophlebitis. Those subjects who demonstrated no complications had significantly higher initial venous flow than those with complications. Those subjects with resolution of complications demonstrated a significantly greater initial venous flow than those without resolution of complications. Clinical variables of pain on injection, vein diameter, dose of diazepam and volume of infusion solution did not significantly differ across groups. However, those subjects with no complications were significantly older than those with complications. It is recommended that the larger veins of the forearm and antecubital fossa, with greater mean velocities of venous flow, be preferred for intravenous diazepam administration to attempt to decrease the nature and incidence of thrombophlebitis.