Using thermography to assess complications of peripheral venous catheters

Peripheral venous catheters (PVCs) are the most frequently used devices in hospitalized patients. Healthcare providers routinely assess the PVC site for signs and symptoms of phlebitis and infiltration; however, the diagnoses remain uncertain. In this study, we examined whether thermography can be used to assess PVC site complications. A low-temperature region, caused by infiltration, was observed in three out of 39 PVC sites; however, some cases were difficult to evaluate. The results suggest that thermography is useful for detecting PVC site complications. Analysis of the thermographic patterns might improve the assessment of PVC complications.