Bio-Mechanical Aspects of Short Peripheral Catheter Thrombophlebitis

Venflons, or Short Peripheral Catheters (SPC), are the most common intravenous devices being used in medical practice, particularly in hospitals and intensive care units. SPC is usually inserted into veins of the upper extremities to administer fluids, medications, blood products or for prophylactic use before procedures. It has been reported that 40–80% of hospitalized patients were treated with SPCs [1, 2]. Short Peripheral Catheter Thrombophlebitis (SPCT) is the most frequent complication of treatment with, characterized by pain, tenderness, warmth, erythema, swelling and palpable thrombosis of the cannulated vein. SPCT causes patients discomfort and generally leads to catheter removal and insertion of a new catheter at a different site [3]. SPCT is a sterile inflammation [2, 3], and its pathogenesis is not well understood. Several mechanisms have been suggested for SPCT pathogenesis, such as chemical irritation of the endothelium due to infusate or catheter material, or that vein wall injury combined with stasis cause an inflammation response and thrombosis [4, 5].