Phlebitis Grading Scale
| Site Observation | Score | Stage/Action |
| IV site appears healthy | 0 | No signs of phlebitis OBSERVE CANNULA |
| One of the following signs is evident: S ... | 1 | Possibly first signs of phlebitis OBSERV ... |
| TWO of the following are evident: Pain a ... | 2 | Early stage of phlebitis RESITE CANNULA |
| ALL of the following are evident: Pain a ... | 3 | Medium stage of phlebitis RESITE CANNULA ... |
What is a good phlebitis score?
Any score of 1 or greater is considered phlebitis. Click to see full answer. Keeping this in consideration, what is the purpose of a phlebitis score? VICC research indicates that the Visual Infusion Phlebitis (VIP) score is a tool for monitoring infusion sites that determines the appropriate discontinuation of peripheral intravenous catheters.
What is the INS phlebitis scale?
Psychometric properties of phlebitis and infiltration scales in an acute and community care setting INS phlebitis scale 0–4 Phlebitis defined as ≥1 INS, 2006 16
How do you calculate phlebitis?
The INS also recommends that phlebitis should be calculated as the number of phlebitis incidents per total number of PIVC multiplied by 100 15,17,18, but this review found that reporting methods varied considerably: per patient, per PIVC and per 1000 catheter days.
What are the psychometric properties of phlebitis?
Psychometric properties of phlebitis and infiltration scales in an acute and community care setting INS phlebitis scale 0–4 Phlebitis defined as ≥1 INS, 2006 16 Pain Erythema Edema Streak formation Palpable venous cord Purulent drainage % patients18.3%≥grade 1 observed7.7% episodes of phlebitis documented in chart Two research nurses
What are the stages of phlebitis?
Phlebitis Grading ScaleSite ObservationScoreStage/ActionTWO of the following are evident: Pain at IV site Redness2Early stage of phlebitis RESITE CANNULAALL of the following are evident: Pain along path of cannula Redness around site Swelling3Medium stage of phlebitis RESITE CANNULA CONSIDER TREATMENT4 more rows
How do you assess for phlebitis?
Assess for other signs of phlebitis, including erythema and warmth at the insertion site. If phlebitis progresses, you'll find redness and warmth above the venipuncture site, limb edema, a palpable cord along the venous pathway, and low-grade fever.
What are the three types of phlebitis?
PhlebitisMechanical phlebitis. Mechanical phlebitis occurs where the movement of a foreign object (cannula) within a vein causes friction and subsequent venous inflammation (Stokowski et al, 2009) (Fig 1). ... Chemical phlebitis. ... Infective phlebitis.
What is phlebitis in IV therapy?
Phlebitis is inflammation of a vein. It is usually associated with acidic or alkaline solutions or solutions that have a high osmolarity. Phlebitis can also occur as a result of vein trauma during insertion, use of an inappropriate I.V. catheter size for the vein, or prolonged use of the same I.V.
Why is VIP score important?
6 The VIP score provides the practitioner with a tool that can describe the condition of the site. It also promotes an action related to the result of the observation such as cannula removal. The VIP score helps for the assessment and documentation.
What are the warning signs of phlebitis?
Symptoms of phlebitis affect the arm or leg where the inflamed vein is located. They often include swelling and pain in the affected area....Symptoms of phlebitisredness.swelling.warmth.tenderness.visible red “streaking“ on the skin along the vein.a rope- or cord-like structure that you can feel through the skin.
What are the main causes of phlebitis?
Phlebitis CausesProlonged inactivity - Staying in bed or sitting for many hours, as in a car or on an airplane, creating stagnant or slow flow of blood from the legs in a dependent position (This pooling of blood in the legs leads to thrombus formation.)Sedentary lifestyle - Not getting any exercise.Obesity.More items...•
What does phlebitis look like on your leg?
Phlebitis is an inflammation of a vein. The vein is hot, red and lumpy. The lump is tubular in shape and it is tender to touch, it may throb and walking may be painful.
Is phlebitis the same as varicose veins?
Phlebitis means "inflammation of a vein". Superficial thrombophlebitis is the term for an inflamed vein near the surface of the skin (usually a varicose vein) caused by a blood clot.
What drugs can cause phlebitis?
The following drugs are prone to causing phlebitis:antibiotics.hypertonic dextrose solutions (>10%)cancer chemotherapies.vasoactive medications.solutions containing calcium and potassium supplements.
Can you get sepsis from phlebitis?
Simple phlebitis is often benign, but when it is progressive, it can cause serious complications, and even death. Suppurative superficial thrombophlebitis is a more serious condition that can lead to sepsis and death, even with appropriate aggressive intervention.
What is the difference between phlebitis and deep vein thrombosis?
When phlebitis is superficial, a blood clot arises in the superficial veins, which are the veins that are just under the surface of the skin. This type of disorder is common and is usually a benign and self-limiting disease. DVT, on the other hand, is a blood clot that develops in a vein deep in the body.
Why is it important to evaluate phlebitis?
Evaluating effectively and objectively the onset of phlebitis is important in order to intervene promptly and avoid more serious consequences for the patient.
What is the vip scale?
The VIP scale provides a score from 0 to 5, in ascending order of severity of inflammation. Each grade identifies a more or less advanced state of phlebitis or thrombophlebitis and differs in the evidence of specific signs and actions to be taken.
What does the phlebitis scale mean?
The Phlebitis Scale does mean something.. Nurses know that phlebitis is the inflammation of the vein and is considered an adverse patient outcome. Vascular access sites should be routinely assessed for signs and symptoms of phlebitis , as well as the severity of phlebitis.
What is a standardized scale?
According to the Infusion Nurses Society (INS) Standards of Practice, a standardized scale that is valid, reliable, and clinically feasible should be used. For the adult population, two phlebitis scale have demonstrated validity and reliability.
What causes phlebitis in the peripheral catheter?
Peripheral catheter-related phlebitis is caused by the inflammation of the tunica intima of a superficial vein. The inflammation is due to irritation of the tunica intima by mechanical, chemical or bacterial sources. If left untreated, it can lead to infection or thrombus formation (Royal College of Nursing, 2010).
What causes phlebitis in a cannula?
Peripheral venous catheter-associated phlebitis is caused by inflammation to the vein at a cannula access site. It can have a mechanical, chemical or infectious cause. Good practice when inserting a cannula, including appropriate choice of device and site, can help to prevent phlebitis.
What is PVC in medical terms?
Peripheral venous cannulation (PVC) is a common procedure carried out in hospital to allow rapid and accurate administration of medication (Endacott et al, 2009). However, the placement of an intravenous cannula can have undesirable effects, the most common of which is phlebitis.
Is phlebitis a poor infection control?
Phlebitis has been linked with inappropriate catheter insertion sites and inappropriate catheter usage. In addition, a poor standard of infection control has a part to play and infection control and hygiene standards are essential in the treatment and prevention of the condition ( Uslusoy and Mete, 2008). Phlebitis.
Does phlebitis resolve itself?
The treatment of phlebitis will depend to some extent on the severity of inflammation and presence of a thrombus. Moderate phlebitis will usually resolve itself. A patient with phlebitis with a VIP score of 2 or more will require their cannula to be removed or resited.
What are the symptoms of phlebitis?
Symptoms of phlebitis. Symptoms of superficial thrombophlebitis include: painful hard lumps underneath the skin. redness of the skin. This is usually on the lower leg, although it can occasionally affect surface veins in the arms, penis or breast.
How to reduce swelling from phlebitis?
Phlebitis is inflammation, not infection, so antibiotics are not helpful. You can follow this advice to help reduce any pain and swelling: raise the leg to help reduce swelling. ask your doctor if compression stockings would be suitable for you to help reduce swelling. keep active to keep the blood circulating.
How long does it take for a thrombophlebitis lump to go away?
Outlook. When the inflammation settles, you may be left with darkened skin and the lump may take 3 or 4 months to go. But most people make a full recovery. If the thrombophlebitis was in a varicose vein, it's likely that the varicose veins will keep coming back, possibly with further episodes of thrombophlebitis.
How to treat a swollen leg?
You can follow this advice to help reduce any pain and swelling: 1 raise the leg to help reduce swelling 2 ask your doctor if compression stockings would be suitable for you to help reduce swelling 3 keep active to keep the blood circulating 4 press a cold flannel over the vein to ease any pain 5 take painkillers or anti-inflammatory medicine like ibuprofen – but if you’ve been prescribed anticoagulant (blood-thinning) medicine, do not take aspirin or ibuprofen unless advised to by your doctor 6 rub an anti-inflammatory cream or gel on the area if the affected area is only small
