British Journal of Anaesthesia, 1981, Vol. 53, No. 12 1265-1268
© 1981 The Board of Management and Trustees of the British Journal of Anaesthesia
research-article |
REDUCTION OF VENOUS SEQUELAE OF I.V. DIAZEPAM WITH A FAT EMULSION AS SOLVENT
Departments of Anaesthesiology and Gynaecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Kuopio, Finland
Correspondence to M.A.K.M., Department of Anaesthesiology, University Hospital, SF-70210 Kuopio 21, Finland.
Venous sequelae were studied in 93 female patients undergoing minor gynaecological procedures. They were premedicated with diazepam i.v. dissolved in a fat emulsion (Diazemuls) injected to a superficial vein of the right hand. The patients observed the site of injection for 14 days and recorded their findings. Twenty-eight per cent reported mild tenderness and 7.5% mild or moderate swelling of short duration. Signs of thrombophlebitis were found in 2.2%. Thrombophlebitis after injection can be prevented effectively and safely using fat emulsion as a solvent for diazepam.