This study found that over half of all medical inpatients in our hospital had an IV cannula inserted. The cannula was often poorly sited, infrequently or never used, and served no documented purpose in almost one-quarter of cases. In addition, a significant number of complications were found. On the study day, this equated to almost 10% of our total medical inpatients having a complication related to an indwelling venous cannula. In one case, a patient exhibited severe Grade 4 phlebitis around an IV cannula that had been in place for eight days without use.
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