A new study led by an Indian-origin researcher has cautioned that one third of hospitalised patients have unnecessary tubes, called cannulas, inserted into their veins, which may lead
A recent study led by a researcher of Indian origin has brought to light the fact that more than one-third of hospitalized patients are forced to use cannulas by their doctors. Cannulas is a tube which is inserted into the veins of the patient to assist in medication intake when he/she cannot swallow. However, unnecessary usage of these tubes results in serious complications like infections and blood clots.
Led by Dr Yash Kumarasamy, researchers from Aberdeen's Robert Gordon University studied 350 patients having cannulas over six weeks time in the acute medical assessment unit of Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
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Cannulas are hollow plastic tubes with a needle at the tip, costing around 1.70 pounds each.
They are used for giving medication and fluids to people who cannot swallow because they are unconscious or being given nil by mouth. And according to estimates, around 80 percent of hospital patients have them fitted. Drugs may also be more easily absorbed if given this way.
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In their study, the researchers found that 91 percent of patients had a cannula inserted, but 28 percent of the tubes were never used.
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Out of those treated, four patients had developed blood poisoning, which infection control specialists said was likely to be linked to the cannula.
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"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," the BBC quoted Kumarasamy as saying.
Dr Martin Shalley, a former president of the British Association of Emergency Medicine, also said that doctors were overtly relying on cannula use.
He said that many trusts had policies saying cannulas had to be removed after 72 hours
"It used to be a knee-jerk response to insert a cannula - but we now recognize there's a need to think if fitting one is a benefit for that patient. It's entirely reasonable to look at their use. That's the case in A and E medicine and across acute medicine too," he said.
He also claimed that such over-reliance on cannulas had increased the level of hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA.
The study was presented to the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester.
Source-ANI
TAN/M
