The effect of 2% nitroglycerin ointment application on the phlebitis intensity, induced by intravenous catheter

One of the main problems with intravenous injection is high prevalence of phlebitis. The duration of staying the patients in the hospital and mortality have been significantly reduced in the hospitals with less side effects of intravenous injection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of 2% nitroglycerin ointment application on the phlebitis intensity, induced by intravenous catheter.

This is a single-blind clinical trial study in which 300 hospitalized patients Ghaem hospital in Mashhad city, Iran were selected by purposive-sampling method. Patients were randomly divided into two experimental (150 patients) and control (150 patients) group. In experimental groups, after intravenous insertion of catheter, we applied 2% nitroglycerin ointment (0.5 inch) in the distal part of the catheter and in control group, we did not use nitroglycerin ointment. The catheter areas were evaluated for phlebitis every 12 hours after catheter insertion in both groups. In experimental group, replacement of nitroglycerin ointment was repeated after 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours. Data were statistically analyzed using student-t test, Chi-square analysis and Fisher test.

The phlebitis intensity in experimental group was less than control group (P<0.001). According to the MADOX criteria, the degree of 0 (for no phlebitis) and 1 of phlebitis intensity was significantly more in the experimental group compared to the control group (P<0.05). On the other hand, the degree of 2 of phlebitis was significantly more in control group than the experimental group (P<0.05).

The results of this study suggest that the local application of 2% nitroglycerin ointment can reduce the phlebitis intensity, induced by intravenous catheter.