Some IVs unnecessary – claim

As many as a third of patients in hospital undergo unnecessary insertion of intravenous tubes, according to a new study.

Insertion of the tubes, known as cannulae, has become common practice in hospitals when patients are admitted, the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester was told.

But unnecessary insertion exposes patients to the risk of complications such as infection and blood clots, researchers said.

Researchers at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, studied patient records and found that in 71 per cent of cases there was no recording of the cannula insertion.

In 57 per cent of cases there was no record of the removal of the tube.

The study found that 91 per cent of patients had a tube inserted during their stay in hospital.

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."