[Peripheral venous tolerance of a hyperosmolar basic solution].

Abstract

A controlled open clinical trial was carried out to compare the peripheral venous tolerance of patients receiving a hyperosmolar basic nutrition solution (3% amino acids, carbohydrates and electrolytes, 806 mosm/l) with that of patients receiving an isoosmolar electrolyte solution (299 mosm/l). 13 patients received the basic solution, 11 the electrolyte solution. The study was terminated after 4 days. For comparison the infusion time and local venous irritation of each patient were recorded. In both the infusion time and local irritation a slight trend in favour of the electrolyte solution was found, which, however, did not reach statistical significance. We conclude, that under normal clinical circumstances a hyperosmolar basic nutrition solution does not cause a higher rate of peripheral venous irritations compared with an isoosmolar electrolyte solution and should be administered to patients with an expected infusion time of not longer than 4 days.