Venous reactions related to in-dwelling plastic cannulae: a prospective clinical trial

Abstract

Local venous reactions to in-dwelling plastic cannulae have been studied in 477 postoperative patients. The results showed that the incidence of venous reactions was related not only to the duration but also to the cannula material. Cannulae of 4 different types of material were used. Those made of fluoroethylene propylene (F.E.P.) appeared to cause less overall venous reactions than the other type of ‘Teflon’ used, namely tetrafluoroethylene (T.F.E.), and both appeared to be less reactive than either polyvinyl chloride (P.V.C.) or polyethylene (P.E.). The infusion of blood through all cannulae significantly increased the incidence of venous reactions.