Abstract
Fifty post-operative urology patients were monitored to determine the effects of in-line final filtration on the occurrence of phlebitis and on changes in body temperature, pulse rate and diastolic blood pressure.
In this study, modeled after a study done by Ryan, et al., at the University of Kentucky, no statistically significant difference was found between the patients utilizing final filters and those not utilizing final filters. Our findings were quite different from those of Ryan's, who found a very significant reduction in the incidence of phlebitis by utilizing in-line final filtration of intravenous fluids but similar to a study done by Collin, et al. Our results led to the conclusion that providing a “clean” intravenous solution to the patient by using final filtration is only a portion of the hospital's responsibility; the other part of our responsibility lies in assuring a proper, aseptic external environment for the administration of the solution. Both of these areas are essential in providing intravenous fluid therapy.
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