Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO₄) Fomentation Verses Cold Compress for Reducing Intravenous Extravasation

Intravenous infusion of drugs, fluids and nutrients has become an indispensable practice in present day medical care. Venous canulation via peripheral intravenous catheters is the simplest and most frequently used method for administration of an infusion. It is associated with inherent complications, which can be mechanical or infectious. Majority 10(33.3%)of samples were in age group of 20–30 yrs and 51-60 yrs, with 19(63.3)female. Maximum (36.7%) were illiterate and secondary level educated up to the primary level and had the intravenous line for the five days. In cold compress Group, majority of (33.3%) samples were from age group between 41–50 and 51–60, majority of 53.3% were males, maximum (43.3%) were educated up to secondary level and had the intravenous line for five days. In both the groups, majority of patients (73.3%) and (80.0%) were Hospitalized between 0-7 days.

In Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO₄) fomentation pretreatment, (43.33%) samples experienced mild pain and (16.7%) of samples experienced pain severely. In post treatment, it was seen that 63.3% had no pain and 2(6.7%) were had moderate pain in Magnesium Sulphate (MgSO₄) fomentation group. In cold compress group, 20(66.7%) of samples experienced moderate pain and 6 (20%) samples experienced severe pain. In the post treatment, it was seen that 17 (56.7%) had no and 11(36.7%) experienced mild pain.

It was found that, the age group, sex, education, no of day's intravenous line present, site of intravenous line, duration of hospitalization and signs and symptoms of phlebitis shows no significant relationship with the treatment outcome in relieving intravenous extravasations in both the groups. While duration of extravasations and length of extravasations show significant relationship with the treatment outcome in both the groups. Therefore these findings indicate that the magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) fomentation is slightly better than the cold compress in reducing of intravenous therapy related extravasations.