Fewer patients dislodged peripheral intravenous catheters with transparent dressings than with gauze dressings
Question Compared with gauze dressings, can transparent polyurethane dressings (TPDs) reduce patient dislodgment of peripheral intravenous (IV) catheters, phlebitis, and insertion site infiltration?
Design
Randomised controlled trial.
Setting
6 units (medical and surgical) in a 1000 bed national referral centre in Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Patients
229 adult patients admitted between January 1994 and June 1995 with a physician prescription for initiation of peripheral IV treatment in a forearm vein. Exclusion criteria were <18 years old, evidence of thrombocytopenia or immunosuppression, or pregnancy.
Intervention
108 patients were allocated to TPDs (Opsite, Smith and Nephew, Quebec, Canada) and 121 were allocated to gauze dressings (5 x 5 cm Mirasorb Sponges, Johnson and Johnson Medical Inc, Arlington, Texas). To ensure standardisation of insertion and dressing techniques, nurses attended mandatory training sessions, …
