Patients at risk from unnecessary tubes

A third of patients have unnecessary tubes (cannulae) inserted when they are in hospital, needlessly exposing them to serious complications such as infection and blood clots, research launched at the British Pharmaceutical Conference (BPC) in Manchester has shown.

Pharmacy researchers from Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen also showed that in 71% of patient records there was no documentation of cannula insertion and in 57%, no documentation of cannula removal.

Complications associated with intravenous (IV) cannula use include problems with veins (phlebitis), leakage of drugs into tissues around the site of the tube (extravasations), serious infection and blood clots.

91% of patients had an IV cannula inserted during their hospital stay. They are often used for patients who are vomiting, fasting or who are unconscious, to ensure that they receive the appropriate drugs and fluids. In many UK hospitals, it has become common practice to insert an IV cannula when the patient is admitted, irrespective of need.

Head researcher, Dr Yash Kumarasamy, said: "We would like to see the introduction of a formal procedure under which hospital pharmacists review patients and their medications and make recommendations to the treatment team about whether or not a cannula is needed."